How to Develop the Plan?

1. Start a conversation about care planning with the person who receives your care. If your care recipient isn’t able to provide input, anyone who has significant interaction with the care recipient (a family member or home nurse aide) can help complete the form.
2. Talk to the doctor of the person you care for or another health care provider. A physician can review the plan for you started and help to complete it, especially if there is a conversation about advanced care planning.
3. Ask about what care options are relevant to the person you care for. Medicare covers appointments that are scheduled to manage chronic conditions and for discussing advanced care plans.
4. Discuss any needs you have as a caregiver. 84% of caregivers report they could use more information and help on caregiving topics especially related to safety at home, dealing with stress, and managing their care recipient’s challenging behaviors.

What Are the Benefits?

• Reduce emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and improve overall medical management for people with a chronic health condition (like Alzheimer’s)
• Give a better quality of life for all care recipients
• Provide supportive resources for you, the caregiver, to continue leading a healthy life of your own.

Resource links:

https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/caregivers-month.html