What is a Care Plan?

A care plan is a tool that you can use, along with your family members, care giver or agencies in order to ensure your loved ones needs are met with the expectations you may have. There are multiple steps in creating a care plan for elder or convalescence care, and it requires complete transparency among your care taker professionals, your loved one being cared for, and any family members that may need to oversee the process as well. In developing a care plan, the end goal is to make sure that your loved ones needs are being met and that everyone is working together correctly to meet those needs.

When you develop a care plan, bring out a notepad and pen; write down your concerns and the answers to the steps mentioned below. Make it as detailed as you want. After all, this is the planning strategy that is going to help you consider and understand the best way to help your loved one.

9 Steps to Create a Needed Care Plan

Step One: Determine the specific needs your loved one may require.

What are the areas in daily life that they may need assistance with? What duties or responsibilities need to be met? You must reasonably evaluate the specific needs that your elder family member may need assistance with, no matter how big or small.

Step Two: Determine the extent of the need.

How often will your loved ones need to be cared for? What type of care is essentially needed? Is the level of care needed going to require a medical professional of some kind, or can a non-medical agent help? Ask yourself exactly what the needs seem to be, and be honest with yourself.

Step Three: Develop a home safety assessment.

Survey the area where your loved one is at currently. Is this a safe place for them? Is the current area they are living in safe, comfortable, and conducive to their happiness? Are the situations that they may find themselves in within their home safe? What possibilities exist for danger, and how can these things be avoided? Be thorough and asses the very nature of the home, from the carpeting to the roof, as well as the neighborhood itself. There are many potential factors for elder safety to consider.

Step Four: Understand the ailments and illnesses of your elder or disabled loved one.

What most affects their ability to take care of themselves? What type of convalescence issue may they be dealing with? Are they simply fragile and only need help with minor tasks, or might they be suffering from a more serious ailment such as Alzheimer’s disease or something just as serious? Are they suffering from some other mental ailment, physical ailment, or a combination of both? What type of disposition do they have?

Step Five: Determine what type of convalescent of elder care is most needed.

Will they need medical care, or will non-medical care be a good choice? Can your loved one live comfortably with an In-Home Care assisted living program, or will they require something more significant with an elder or assisted living home? Will they require a facility of some sort to help them live comfortably and safely? Or, if they can live with minor assisted living care within their own home, how much care will they require? How often, what days, and what times will a health care professional need to be present with them?

Step Six: Understand your loved ones feelings and desires.

These are people! They have feelings, wants, desires, and all the feelings and thoughts you have. Try to understand not only what may be best for them, but also what they want.  If this is a difficult time for you, imagine how much more difficult it can be for them. So try to open yourself up to understanding what they truly feel and what their disposition with any type of assisted living program may be. It may be a decision that must be made despite their personal desires, but try to be understanding and listen to their point of view. You want what is best for them, and to enrich their life.

Step Seven: Evaluate the financial situation and possibilities.

Unfortunately, money can at times play a pivotal role in your care plan. You must assess the practical financial situation your loved ones are in, or the financial help you can offer yourself. If your loved one requires significant care through a professional convalescence home, this may affect you differently than if they can get by with an assisted living at home program.  If they can stay at home, it will also be different depending on if they require a medical versus non-medical staff, and how often. These are all factors you must consider in developing a Care Plan. Depending on the level of financial need, you may qualify for assisted living programs or support of some kind.

Step Eight: Organize your evaluation and create a daily routine and care schedule.

Once you have fully understood everything, and made a decision in the direction of care you need to take. You must consult with the team of care providers you have chosen and make sure a daily routine and schedule is created. Make sure there is a program for taking medications, exercising, and communicating with doctors and whatever else may be pertinent. Be organized and concise. An organized routine will benefit all, and create a less stressed environment for your loved one.

Step Nine: Follow Up.

Once everything is in motion, make sure to visit and check in with your loved ones as well as the care professional that is helping with their assisted living life style. Keep yourself active and involved as much as you can. Your care professionals and your loved ones in particular will appreciate your participation and help.

Summary

Again, a health care plan is and extremely useful care-giving tool for you, your loved ones, and the health caregiver professional you choose to work with. There are many questions and concerns when it comes to elder or disabled convalescence care, and hopefully this planning guide can help with some of the problems that usually arise when families are trying to decide how best to care for their loved ones. The important thing to remember is that you want your loved ones in a safe and comfortable environment, and there are many options for you to choose from. Whether you need medical health care or non medical health care; or whether you want an in-home care caregiver or a facility care provider, there are options for you to choose from. The best thing to do is to sit down and plan.

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