A care plan should include the caregiver
The 2024 launch of Medicare’s GUIDE model put caregiver support alongside dementia care. Our takeaway: a useful plan should make room for the person giving care, too.
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Matching articles
102 articles · Page 7 of 9
The first home visit begins before the doorbell
A first visit is easier to prepare for when the person knows who is coming and what has been agreed. NICE’s home-care guidance prompts teams to think about introductions, practical expectations and the person's priorities before a new worker arrives.
Finding support when you are the only available family caregiver
Family Caregiver Alliance’s 2024 collection of personal stories makes room for experiences that are often hidden. Our perspective: being the only available relative should be a starting point for finding support, not an assumption that everything must stay with you.
Share the context that fits the role
A care team needs useful information, and each recipient has a different job to do. HHS guidance on communication with family and friends prompts a practical discussion about purpose, the person's wishes and sharing relevant context through the right channel.
Make cover a clear agreement
Helping a busy colleague works best when the offer names the task, the available time and the limits of the role. AHRQ’s task-assistance guidance prompts a practical look at staff cover that preserves continuity for the person receiving support.
People should have a voice in the community they join
Having a voice should mean a chance to shape something real. A health-policy resolution prompts practical ideas for choosing open decisions, inviting different contributions and explaining what happens next.
Planning a break that works for the caregiver and family
AARP’s January 2024 respite report looks at both the value of breaks and barriers to using them. Our perspective: making time away possible means considering the caregiver’s needs and the experience of the person receiving support.
Check the explanation, not the person
A nod does not always mean a next step is clear. AHRQ’s updated teach-back guidance invites care teams to check how well they have explained an arrangement, with space for questions and another way to explain it.
Recognizing the caregiver between generations
A 2023 study compared burnout across different caregiving roles. Our takeaway is not a label for every family: it is a reason to notice when children, work and an older relative’s needs are drawing on the same person’s limited time.
The friend you have been meaning to contact
Sometimes the person we would like to see is someone we already know. Research on reconnecting prompts a reflection on an ordinary first message, a comfortable invitation and room for the other person to choose.
Ask who the person wants in the conversation
A helpful supporter is someone the person has chosen to involve. Established NICE guidance prompts teams to ask who should join a care conversation, what role they will play and when that choice needs checking again.
Talking about changing care needs before a crisis
NIA’s guidance starts with asking the older person directly. Our perspective: an early conversation works better when it names one observation, listens to what matters and leaves room for a next step chosen together.