Getting the most out of the home care planning process!
When faced with the reality of planning for, and starting home care, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. This is uncharted territory for most of us… a reality few of us have experienced before. And typically, it happens to us or our families when we are the least ready to deal with it. Learning a new way of life while navigating a new or worsening diagnosis, prognosis or health situation can be frightening and overwhelming. Tackling the enormous job of putting a home care plan in place at the same time can seem insurmountable.
It’s important to remember that you are a partner in your own care or the care of your loved one and at Milestone Health we take that partnership seriously. With that in mind, here are a few things to always remember as you begin to navigate your new reality.
Have a family member or friend sit in on planning meetings
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by significant illness or life changes. The stress involved in situations like this can influence your memory, clarity, and ability to communicate effectively. Often, just having someone familiar and caring with you can be calming. It is perfectly ok to have someone with you when discussing your care and making plans. They can help by taking notes and suggesting questions that may help clarify things.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
During initial meetings with your home care service provider, and as your care plan and schedule progress, remember that you are allowed to ask as many questions as are necessary to understand the processes and schedule your care provider and medical team have established. To be as effective as possible, your home care service provider needs your understanding and input. If you think of questions ahead of time, jot them down and have them with you during your meetings. Milestone Health offers free, in-home consultation with a nurse case manager where you can dialogue openly about any questions and concerns you might have. We schedule regular follow-up visits too and of course you can call or email us anytime.
Voice your concerns
As your discussion of the care plan progresses, you may begin to worry or wonder about some aspects of the plan or your specific care. If health and safety masking mandates have ended but you prefer caregivers to be masked, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for this to be part of your care plan* The good news is, as we shared in a blog just a month or two ago, all Milestone Health caregivers are masked for your safety. It’s not uncommon to wonder about things like “What will I have to provide and have ready in my home?” or “Are the home care staff members bonded?” (For the record, you bet we are!) These are legitimate concerns, and your home care service provider will likely have ready answers that will set your mind at rest.
Share any specific barriers to comfortable care during early meetings
Home care professionals are trained, efficient, gentle, and thoughtful in the care of their patients. But we know our own bodies best and can’t expect others to read our minds. To make the early days of your care more comfortable and assist new and/or changing staff who care for you, it can help to share specific issues or barriers early in your planning sessions. If you have a disability, don’t forget to share information such as which side you see or hear best from, if you have a particularly sore leg that will need to be treated with special care, if you bruise easily or if you can’t breathe well when lying flat on your back. Perhaps ask that a sign be typed out in large lettering and posted by your bed with things like this. It saves explaining it when staff changes happen and is appreciated by PSW’s and nurses
Make sure to note if a certain time is off-limits for home care visits
When home care service providers schedule visits, they try to ensure that their travelling caregivers don’t have to travel more than necessary, taking up valuable care time in a car. However, care recipients sometimes have things in their own timetables that can’t be interrupted, perhaps because of a time-sensitive medical procedure, or an ongoing doctor consultation. When this happens, make sure you let your service scheduler know that a certain time should be blocked off, if possible. At Milestone Health we know conflicts occasionally arise but do our best to provide the care you need WHEN you need it.
If you or a family member has come to the point where the need for care is now necessary, these few suggestions will help you get the most out of your home care experience and should go a long way to ensuring that you are informed and at ease as you move forward.
We’re Milestone Health and we provide home care services in the following areas: Halton, including Georgetown, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, and Mississauga North. If you would like to discuss your individual needs, contact Milestone Health Services Halton for a complimentary in-home consultation at 1-888-509-9394 or 905-864-9020. You can also use our online contact form or our live chat option.