By developing a dementia care plan with your loved one, you and the care team will have a greater understanding of who they are as a person, and how you can help them move toward the highest functional abilities. Here’s how to help your aging parents develop a comprehensive dementia care plan.
Create Formal Care Plans with The Healthcare Provider or Care Community
Care teams are obligated to develop care plans for each resident or patient in long-term care institutions, skilled nursing facilities, health clinics, and adult daycare settings across the U.S. No matter the resident’s condition or disability, whether they have dementia or not, the care team must evaluate their recent admission and create a plan of care using a multidisciplinary approach within 1 month of their arrival.
The team presents its findings and care objectives during the care plan meeting, which is open to the patient and/or a family member. Ultimately, the quality of care administered is dependent on the cooperation of the care team, the resident, and loved ones.
A care plan should touch on any or all of the following subjects:
- Biography
- Physical Ability
- Communication
- Eating and Bathroom Routines
- Cognitive Ability
- Psychosocial and Behavioral Needs
- Leisure Activities
When developing this care plan, make sure to provide valuable input on your observations of your loved one that could assist the care team in knowing what is expected of them.
Through this session, families will also obtain greater clarity on the goals of care for the patient. Our team of dedicated members at our retirement community will work with you to develop a comprehensive care plan, through our Shine Memory Care Program.
Take on Your Parent’s Perspective in Developing a Care Plan
Dementia care plans can also be written from first person perspective, in a way that makes it appear as though the patient is communicating. This dementia care plan will present the individual in a personal way and highlight what is required for caregivers to be successful in their interaction with the individual, in contrast to a purely medical care plan that adopts a more clinical approach.
It contains personal information that is crucial for carers to know and utilize while working with the individual.
A caregiver or someone unfamiliar with the patient would be able to respond to questions like “Who is this person?” and “What drives them?” after reviewing the dementia care plan. The ultimate objective is to give your loved one a voice, particularly when they are not able to speak for themselves.
It can cover aspects like:
- My Life Story
- My Community, Friends, and Family
- My Personality
- My Health
- My Favourite Foods and Drinks
- My Beliefs and Spirituality
- My Sensory Challenges
- What I Like to Do, What I Enjoy, and What I Dislike
In sum, a care plan can help you be better prepared for the journey ahead for your parent who has been diagnosed with dementia.
Know that their individual characteristics and preferences can still be accounted for even with their condition, and this is particularly true if they are in a setting like a retirement community. Find out more about other benefits of residing in a senior living community that could improve your aging parent’s quality of life!
