What is a Senior Care Plan?

What is a Senior Care Plan?

A senior care plan is a strategic tool used to assess the needs of an older adult and organize their care accordingly. This plan should detail the services and support a senior requires and specify who will be providing them. It should also include any health conditions and treatments, along with a timeline for regular reevaluation and updates.

The specifics of a care plan can differ based on the senior's needs. Healthcare professionals, senior living communities, and home care providers typically use some form of care planning. Families can also adopt this approach to manage the care of their aging loved ones more effectively.

Benefits of a Senior Care Plan

A senior care plan ensures that a senior receives the necessary care, benefiting both the senior and their family caregivers. Effective senior care planning should:

- Help caregivers organize their responsibilities efficiently

- Allow seniors to express their care preferences

- Provide a clear list of tasks and activities tailored to a senior's needs

- Organize medications and specify when they should be taken

- Improve communication among care team members

- Facilitate discussions about long-term planning, including senior living options and estate planning

Identify Your Loved One’s Needs

The first step in creating a comprehensive elder care plan is to evaluate your loved one's needs. Work with them to identify where they are independent and where they need help. Assess the following aspects of their daily life:

- Ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, and cooking

- Home safety

- Health status and medication needs

- Social interactions

- Physical fitness

- Intellectual stimulation

Using tools like an ADL checklist can help document areas where assistance is needed.

Determine Care and Supports

Next, identify the specific care and supports your loved one needs based on the assessment. Establish the care plan's goals by addressing these questions:

- Does your loved one prefer to age in place or in a community setting?

- How can outside support fill caregiving gaps?

- What activities or care would they like to improve or incorporate into their routine?

- What tasks can family caregivers handle, and when would a professional caregiver be beneficial?

Prioritize their health, safety, and quality of life by identifying necessary care services and their frequency. Understanding your loved one’s financial situation will help determine your options.

Consider these examples:

- For a senior needing regular support with ADLs, list the tasks and who will assist. This could be family members or in-home care professionals.

- For someone requiring daily medication, organize the care plan with reminders and specify who will provide them.

- For a senior living alone, ensure home safety by addressing tripping hazards or installing grab bars.

- For a senior who no longer drives but wants to meet friends weekly, schedule the event and assign a family member or caregiver for transportation.

Once health and well-being are addressed, focus on other identified elements.

Create a Senior Care Plan Draft

After identifying team members, draft a customized care plan for your loved one. Outline the tasks or services needed, who will perform them, and the steps to address concerns. The care plan should provide specific information about each team member's contributions.

Conduct a meeting with the care team to delegate tasks and gather input. This allows for adjustments and ensures everyone understands their role in the care plan.

By following these steps, you can create an effective and comprehensive senior care plan that meets your loved one's needs and supports their caregivers. 

Additional Services 

If you feel like you need additional resources, fill out the form here, and we'll be happy to connect you with any of the trusted resources that can help to determine a care plan, help you find the right level of care, in-home medical or non-medical healthcare, or legal advice.   Family Shepherd does not provide any of these services, but we do have a trusted group of local resources in Kansas City, Jackson County, and Johnson County that we are happy to introduce you to that'll make your journey a little easier.

Caring for a loved one can be complex, but a care plan can help you stay organized and simplify caregiving tasks. Make creating the care plan a team effort, ensuring it realistically addresses the needs of both the senior and their caregivers.