HANDBOOK FOR HOME-CARE PATIENTS

HAPPY "CARING" ... FOR YOU AND YOUR PATIENT!

HOME-CARE PATIENTS ...

Questions/Information to be gathered at INTERVIEW. . .(Absolutely before beginning job!)

ASSESSMENT/DETERMINATION OF PATIENT'S NEEDS & ABILITIES:
Needs?   Abilities?

ANY "SPECIAL" CIRCUMSTANCES OF HEALTH AND/OR ABILITIES:
Special Equipment?   Restrictions?

LAYOUT PREPARATIONS OF SURROUNDINGS:
Rooms?   Supplies?   Safety Features?

PREPARATION & DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICATIONS:
Who Prepares?   How/When Taken?

HANDLING OF MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS:
Transportation/Supervision/Help?

REQUIREMENTS FOR "SPECIAL" EQUIPMENT:
Already in place/Needed?   Use?


FAMILY:

1. In home?   What type of involvement and interaction?
2. As "back-up" caregivers/help?   Who's available?   Planned "help"?
3. Legal & Medical responsibilities?   Who has Legal responsibility/rights?
4. Who IS in charge?   Who is "Boss" as far as final say-so dealing with questions, problems, and/or Care-Giver's needs and/or concerns?
5. Who pays for care?   How is time/charging kept track of and handled?
6. Purchasing of supplies?   How is this set up/planned/done?
7. How is food preparation and/or feeding of patient to be handled?
8. Who is responsible for house-keeping chores?
9. What is "plan" for laundry/cleaning up of patients area.   What about emergency "messes".
10.Emergency or information phone numbers...

PATIENT'S PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Age   -   Sex   -   Likes & Dislikes   -   Allergies   -   Hobbies/Interests   -   Etc.


CAREGIVER'S PREPARATIONS/ "TOOLS"

1. Good understanding of total "situation" of Patient.   It is VERY important that this information be discovered/learned EARLY!
2. Understanding of "set-up" of Family, and/or their involvement with patient.
3. Understanding of who IS in charge, legally.   Also, who has rights to answer questions/issue orders/make objections, dealing with Caregiver?
4. Who is in financial charge, and how are things planned for paying for care?
5. Understand Caregiver's required responsibilities,   and/or any options allowed.
6. Set up and keep a "Log" detailing all "care" involving patient.   Also note any relevant actions, problems, interesting activities, different attitudes, etc of patient.   Particularily note any "concerns", for purpose of gathering information and also for future reference.   "Log" is also to help keep activities, medications, rest periods, etc, scheduled.   Also very helpful if manually turning patient at predetermined intervals, to have reference for remembering times and positions.
7. "Log" and pens should be kept within easy access at all times.   It should be clearly understood by all involved, that the "Log" is also available for reading by family members, and likewise for their use in making notes dealing with care or concerns when they are responsible for providing the patient's care.     (General "notes" should be written elsewhere, and a planned "posting area" arranged so that the notes would be found easily by the intended recipient).
8. Any medical or therapy instructions should be clearly noted in the "Log" for clarification/reference purposes!   There should be NO question as to what is meant/required/to be done.
9. Caretaker should strive to:
   A. Always arrive on time.
   B. Be neat, clean, and organized to begin duties
   C. Try to remain calm and pleasant to patient and family members.

VERY IMPORTANT: Patient may not be completely rational, may have personality conflict with Care-Giver, may have very changeable mood swings, etc. These issues require keen observation, and much patience by everyone closely involved.
There is a need to decide on ways of dealing with the issues, and/or great importance of establishing a moral-support-system to deal with issues which cannot/will not "get better", and therefore have to be dealt with only with supreme amounts of patience and "caring".

   D. Remain alert, and "check" often, thereby staying on top of developments.
   E. Be honest, trustworthy and dependable.
   F. If you have a doubt or question.. .ASK for information!
   G. Always be aware of supplies, notifying person in charge of buying, (in person or by leaving a note) before running out of anything... or discuss with them any new needs/possible "better" item, or a possible answer to a developing problem area.
   H. Cleanliness and/or disposal of soiled items, and also control of odors is very important!   There should be a plan/arrangement of how to care for these problems, which everyone involved will use.
   I. Safety of the area is VERY important.   An assessment of the patient's needs and the area being used is vital, followed by immediate safety measures being implemented!   These measures are extremely important for everyone involved.   Over time, these safety needs may change.. . stay alert for any area needing a safety up-date.

Concerns/Possibilities
See sheet titled Safety Concerns...

   J. If the patient is a "bed" patient, changing position OFTEN is crucial!  Also, use of any cream/ointments/padding which may help to prevent breakdown of skin, is extremely important!! (See sheet titled Bed Patient Care)

SUGGESTION:

Mentally, place yourself in your patient's position:   Now, what would you need/want/"react"negatively to/respond positively to/appreciate?   Think/feel, then go and try to anticipate these things, with understanding for your patient!!

HAPPY "CARING" ... FOR YOU AND YOUR PATIENT!

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