Family caregiving typically begins when a family member's health declines or a life event necessitates the need for support with daily chores. Family caregiver’s assistance typically begins with small tasks like transportation or running errands. As a family member's health deteriorates, the tasks of the family caregiver often expand to include medication management, meal preparation, personal care, and more special attention such as medical procedures, mobility assistance, and coordination with healthcare providers.
Family caregivers typically need to start creating a care plan as their loved one's needs become more complex and demanding. A senior care plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the care needs and preferences of an elderly individual. A senior care plan normally includes:
Personal Information
Name, Date of Birth, and Contact Information
Emergency Contacts
Medical Information
Health Conditions: A summary of the care recipient's health conditions and any chronic illnesses.
Medications: List of medications, dosages, and schedules.
Allergies: Any known allergies to medications, foods, or other substances.
Doctors and healthcare providers: Contact information for all primary and specialty healthcare providers.
Care Needs and Daily Living Activities
Daily Routine: Details about the care recipient's typical daily activities, including wake-up and bedtimes, meal schedules, and personal care routines.
Personal Care: Assistance needed for activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility.
Household Tasks: Help with tasks like cooking, cleaning, laundry, and shopping.
Mental and Emotional Health
Cognitive Health: Any issues related to memory, decision-making, or mental health conditions.
Emotional Support: Information about the care recipient's emotional well-being and any needs for companionship or social activities.
Nutritional Needs
Dietary Preferences: Specific dietary needs or restrictions
Hydration: Guidelines for ensuring adequate fluid intake.
Social and Recreational Activities
Activities: List of preferred social and recreational activities to ensure the care recipient remains engaged and active.
Community Involvement: Information about participation in community events or programs.
Documenting a care plan is essential for family caregivers because it provides consistency in care for the elderly and enhances communication when respite care is required. Furthermore, organized care allows family caregivers to better manage their personal time, reducing stress and burnout.
It is essential to engage the care recipient when developing the care plan since it will contain the care recipient's preferences and routines, making them more likely to adhere to the plan. It is also worth noting that a senior care plan is a living document, which means it must be reviewed and updated on a regular basis in order to remain effective and relevant. It must adapt not just to the senior's changing health conditions and evolving personal preferences but also to the particular needs of the family caregiver.
SimpliTend is a comprehensive remote care solution built exclusively for family caregivers who care for their aging loved ones. The two-app concept (senior and caregiver apps) enables seniors and caregivers to create a personalized care plan that meets their requirements. The care plan is stored on the senior’s application; however, since the family caregiver and senior applications are linked, the caregiver can access the senior care plan remotely and make changes. All updates will be reflected in real time on the senior app.
SimpliTend's design approach to storing the care plan on the senior app and managing it remotely by the family caregiver has numerous advantages, including:
Seniors can follow a structured care plan even when they are home alone.
Remote monitoring allows family caregivers to remind seniors to take medications and get ready for activities.
Remote access allows family caregivers to easily update the senior's care plan as the senior's health or preferences change.
SimpliTend's "Temporary Caregiver" feature enables family caregivers who require a break to temporarily grant access to the elder care plan to another family member or friend. This is especially useful since it allows the respite care provider to follow the same recorded care plan, eliminating errors and the need for the primary caregiver to explain or repeat the plans to the respite care provider.
Please see our video on how to set up the “temporary caregiver” feature.
A care plan is a vital tool that benefits both seniors and caregivers by ensuring personalized, consistent, and high-quality care while reducing stress and enhancing communication. SimpliTend utilizes technology to simplify caring. Please send us an email at contact.us@simplitend.com and let us know what enhancements you would like to see.
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