A Guide to Creating a Care Plan in 2023

At 1+1 Cares, we strive to provide you with the necessary resources to ensure a successful care plan during this changing year of 2023. Our Guide to Creating a Care Plan in 2023 is here for you so that your aging loved one can receive the best possible care.

A care plan is an essential first step in caregiving for success. The document acts as a manual for taking care of your loved one and their specific needs. It outlines their health conditions, current treatments, and specific care requirements. A care plan can give you the confidence that you’re meeting your loved one’s needs by helping you organize and prioritize caregiving tasks.

Why is a care plan for the elderly important?

A detailed care plan has a variety of benefits for you and your aging loved one:

• You’ll be more prepared when making decisions involving your loved one’s needs.
• You’ll have all information at hand to answer questions from family members, healthcare providers, and other professionals.
• It helps prevent mistakes in care by ensuring everyone involved knows what to expect.
• The more detailed the plan, the easier it will be to use during care. Consider clarifying specific tasks, including detailed timetables, and explaining expectations for certain topics (hours, frequency, etc.).

How to create a comprehensive plan for the elderly?

1. Goals and objectives: Setting your goals for care will help you make a more effective plan. What do you hope to achieve with the care plan? Are there particular tasks or activities you want to focus on? What medical conditions need to be monitored and treated? Also, involve the care recipient in the goal-making process. Ask what they are interested in accomplishing from their care.
2. Considering limits and strengths: Assess your loved one’s physical capabilities and limitations. What do they need assistance with? Evaluate their abilities to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living. Also, learn of any risks they could face, such as falls and reactions to medication.
3. Tailored plan: No two care plans are the same because no two persons’ needs are the same. A care plan should be tailored to the individual’s personality, preferences, and lifestyle.
4. Daily activities: A schedule of daily activities and tasks should be included in the care plan. This helps ensure that all of their needs are taken care of regularly. The schedule should not only include essential tasks, but also activities to help socialize and enrich their daily life.
5. Track changes and regularly update: Pay attention to any changes in your loved one’s condition or routine so you can update the plan as needed.

Families should regularly check in with assessments on their loved ones. It is crucial to address the need for immediate modification in case of an emergency or drastic change in their health. Some events that require an update in the plan may be:

• A health event, such as a heart attack
• Diagnosis of a medical condition, such as dementia
• Changes in the ability to provide care
• Changes related to aging, such as mobility, motor skills, eyesight, or ability to swallow
• Changes in your loved one’s ability to perform tasks such as housekeeping, cooking, or driving.
• The increase or decrease in hours of care
• Adding, cutting, or adjusting tasks people will perform in care

6. Communication is key: The care plan should involve all parties participating in your loved one’s care, such as family members, health professionals, and any other caregivers. This helps guarantee everyone is on the same page and can work together to give the best possible care.

At 1+1 Cares, we strive to provide you with the necessary aging in  resources and guidance needed to ensure a successful care plan during this changing year of 2023. Our comprehensive guide is here for you so that your aging loved one can receive the best possible care.

1+1 Cares is a referral agency that works for clients and caregivers. We match caregivers with clients and inform them of your requirements. We work for you so you and your loved one can have a safe, enjoyable caregiving experience.