How to Make a Care Plan for the Elderly

Knowing how to make a care plan for an elderly individual can allow you to prioritize and organize caregiving activities.

Benefitting both the patient and the caregiver, a care plan is also critical to focusing on specific needs and treatment. Care plans can also provide a sense of security and routine for the patient.

With Visiting Angels’ customized care planning, the patient (and their loved ones) and the referred caregiver work together to create a customized care plan.

Why Create a Senior Care Plan?

Whether you're a family caregiver or setting up a professional in-home caregiver, there are many benefits to creating a senior care plan:

• Reduce the risk of accidents that result in emergency room visits or life-threatening injuries.
• Aid family caregivers so they can avoid burnout.
• Improve the quality of life and retain independence in the home.
• Focus on specific concerns and needs, ensuring the senior's care is optimized.
• Avoid patronizing the patient or removing a sense of independence, by understanding what they do and don’t need, in advance.

How to Make a Senior Care Plan

Identify the Needs and Concerns

First, the caregiver and senior should communicate to identify the key needs and concerns. This should also include understanding medical concerns and conditions, so caregiving can be adapted as required (for example, with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease).

During this step, the caregiver should ask the senior if they’re worried about anything. If so, make note of these and then find solutions. The caregiver should also ask what the senior is comfortable and uncomfortable with - so boundaries can be set, to avoid confusion and anxiety.

Some seniors may have trouble opening up so much, but getting a clear idea of what's needed can also remove anxiety and give them a sense of control moving forward.

Plan out a Day

Every area of daily life should be considered. As a starting point, imagine the day from waking up to going to sleep.

In the morning, what areas of life does the senior struggle with? Do they need assistance leaving the bed, getting dressed, and grooming? Do they need breakfast prepared? Do they need help walking down the stairs? Is it a time when loneliness kicks and they just need some company? Alternatively, is morning a time of the day when they can get by unaided?

Thinking like this throughout the day can be of great help.

Checklist of Creating a Senior Care Plan

When making a care plan, go through the following areas of daily life to see what is and isn't required:

Meal Planning

• Does the senior need support with meal planning and preparation?
• What foods do they like and not like?
• How can tastes and preferences be incorporated into a nutritional diet?
• Do they need meals prepared three times a day?
• Where do mealtimes fit into the schedule?

Medication Schedules

Missing medication is the cause of 125,000 and 10% of hospitalizations every year. It must be considered in a care plan.

• Does the senior need reminders or assistance with medication?
• If so, what is their treatment schedule?

Household Chores

Senior home caregivers can help with chores such as dishes, laundry and house cleaning. A senior care plan should detail what chores will be necessary, to avoid clutter and dirt building up.

Brain Training Activities

• What activities can keep the senior's brain active?
• Do they enjoy reading, crosswords, puzzles, online programs or games?
• How can these be implemented into daily life?

Hobbies

Hobbies play a vital role in the well-being of elderly individuals. Any care plan should ensure that their hobbies are included and never neglected. Whether it's painting, sewing, gardening, watching baseball or watching karate films, make sure the caregiver is aware of them.

Exercise

The CDC says that adults aged 65 and older should have at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise. That accounts for around 30 minutes a day of walking. But the demands can be reduced with more vigorous-intensity activities such as hiking, jogging and running.

These activities can be crucial in maintaining a strong body that isn't prone to trips and falls.

Some people will be unable to maintain these demands of exercise due to physical or mental limitations, so the senior care plan should try to incorporate a healthy amount of exercise as best possible.

Exercise can be incorporated in casual ways, such as walking around the neighborhood, visiting friends or going to a local restaurant or cafe.

Socializing

Ensure social life is included in the senior care plan as it can improve mental health, reduce stress and ensure the senior isn't lonely and isolated.

• What friends and family do the seniors have and enjoy seeing?
• What is required for them to meet up?
• Are phone calls and video calls required, and if so does the senior need help with that?

Grooming and Hygiene

• What support does the loved one require for bathing, grooming, and hygiene-related tasks?
• What do they not want support with?
• And what are their concerns?
• What could make it easier and more comfortable?

Walking and Stability

The senior's balance and mobility should be strongly considered in the care plan, as they may require a close helping hand throughout the day. It may also require that the home is fitted with grab bars and the removal of trip and fall hazards.

Errands

• What out-of-the-house errands are required?
• Does the senior caregiver need to collect groceries, medication or other items?
• Would the senior like, or need, to be present during these outings?

Transport

Many seniors become unable or uncomfortable driving with age. If so, a professional caregiver can be there to provide transportation to and from events. Make a note of what's required, how long it takes and the necessary address.

For example, what doctor's visits are necessary, what hobbies require transport and what days are family members unable to drive?

Caregiver Schedules

Many seniors receive a mix of support from family, friends and professional caregivers. Whoever is involved should work together to ensure that there is a fluid and clear schedule and system.

For example, is a professional caregiver required on weekdays, but a relative steps in on weekends?

Contact Us for a Caregiver Referral to Senior Home Care Services in Tampa, FL, Pasco County and North Pinellas County.

If you need professional senior home care, then contact Visiting Angels today to arrange a referral of a professional caregiver to provide Senior Home Care in Tampa, FL.

Whether you're ready to get started or would like to learn more, we'll be happy to have a conversation with you or your loved one.

You can call us at 813-909-2550 today for Hillsborough, Pasco & North Pinellas areas - Available 24/7 to talk with a Visiting Angels Representative.