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Key Learnings
A well-organized caregiving plan centered on your loved one’s needs and preferences helps you manage daily and intermittent tasks effectively and respond to emergencies quickly. It should clearly outline duties and specify what responsibility each member of the caregiving team will handle. Including input from professionals, such as your loved one’s doctors, as well as physical, occupational or speech therapists or a geriatric care manager, can help ensure critical tasks are included. A comprehensive plan:
- Serves as a central reference point, ensuring all parties understand their roles
- Provides a framework to go to and adjust as your loved one’s needs change
- Facilitates clear communication, helping to prevent misunderstandings
- Reduces caregiver stress and burnout by distributing responsibilities among multiple people
- May help your loved one’s mental and physical health by providing continuity of care and ensuring their needs are met
Recommended Steps
Designate a Point Person: Whether it’s you or a fellow caregiver, naming a primary person to create and maintain the plan can keep the process organized.
Create a Master List of Tasks: Include all duties, even minor ones.
Assign Key Responsibilities: Aim to match tasks with each person’s skills, experience, availability and preferences.
Get Buy-In: Ensure everyone understands and agrees to their assigned tasks. Confirm in a written manner, such as through email.
Make the Plan Available to All: Consider using secure digital tools to easily share documents or a digital platform, such as the Ianacare caregiver support network, which can help you assign and track specific tasks.
Add Extra Support for the Primary Caregiver: Ensure that the main caregiver gets additional time to meet their own needs.
Review the Plan Regularly: Schedule check-ins with your loved one and other caregivers. Make updates as needed. Project management platforms can also help with this.
Add in Backup Plans: Include details on what will happen if a team member unexpectedly can’t do their designated task or if an emergency arises.
Tips for Success
- Designate one point person to oversee and coordinate efforts.
- Include input from your loved one and their medical providers.
- Clearly define each care team member’s role.
- Include members’ contact information when sharing the caregiving plan.
- Capitalize on tools and platforms like a shared calendar, shared online documents or digital caregiving management systems.
- Regularly ask your loved one and other caregivers for feedback on the plan.
- Review and update the caregiving plan regularly.
