Forming an Initial Plan

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Forming a care plan is an ongoing process. Even before you have all the results of medical, functional, psychological, and rehabilitation assessments, you and the support group can develop an informal plan to guide early decisions about care. This initial plan will ensure that

• the caregiver, care group, and care recipient understand the recipient's strengths and can work to support these.
• everyone understands the directions that caregiving might take at this point.
• lines of communication are kept open between the caregiver, care group, and recipient.
• potential resources can be researched.

Although the initial plan will need to be updated as you learn more about the care recipient's strengths and challenges, it is a helpful starting point:

Consider placement:
Does it appear that the care recipient can probably stay at home or should another placement be considered?

Consider daily function:
Is the care recipient probably able to look after him or herself?

Consider the recipient's strengths:
What are positive aspects of the current living situation, health, personal finances, social support, personal interests, and spiritual beliefs?

Resources:

Many resources are available to help you and the support group as you develop an initial plan.

Health professionals

Professional organizations/associations

Housing/placement resources

Next: Locating community resources

Previous: Conducting Assessments