According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, by the year 2050, as many as one in every five Americans could be age 65 years or older. As a result, there is a growing need to plan for aging and the disability it often brings. The purpose of developing a care plan for an elderly individual is to maximize the person's independence and quality of life. Care plans assist older adults and their families in planning, managing and financing for care. There are practical steps to follow in order to develop an adequate care plan.
Instructions
1. Assess the individual's overall situation, including safety in the home. Identify areas of concern, particularly whether the older individual is able to function independently and remain living in his own home with assistance or if the person may need placement in a senior housing facility. Vision, hearing, gait and continence should each be evaluated. The care plan should also address any issues related to memory problems, symptoms of anxiety and depression or suspected alcohol or medication abuse.
2. Gather information including the person's medical history, current medications and dosages, Medicare and Social Security numbers, names and telephone numbers for physicians and pharmacists, as well as the names and contact information of any immediate family members and/or other caregivers. Obtain a copy of the person's birth certificate and Medicare and supplemental insurance I.D. cards.
3. Ask whether the person is a veteran of the military service. As a veteran, she may qualify for VA programs specially created to assist elderly and disabled veterans.
4. Evaluate the individual's financial and legal needs. Find out whether the person has inquired into estate planning and has attended to legal issues such as a Last Will and Testament, Durable Power of Attorney, health care directive, and living will. See if the person has a deed to a burial plot or has left burial instructions with a family member, attorney, clergy or close friend.
5. Offer solutions. Determine the appropriate services that will meet the individual's needs on a daily basis. Coordinate available community resources. These may include a medical alert system and home support services, such as transportation to and from medical appointments, light housekeeping, meals delivered to the home or someone to shop and run errands. A companion, daily caregiver or live-in care may be other alternatives that might need to be considered.
6. Base the plan on the individual's needs and own wishes, as well as the financial and support resources available. If you establish that the person is unable to remain living in the home, placement in adult day care or a residential care facility, whether it be assisted living or skilled nursing, may be required.
7. Monitor the individual's progress and make changes as needed. It will be necessary to continue to assess the person's level of functioning over time, to oversee care and to make certain services are delivered.
Tags: care plan, individual needs, , remain living, remain living home