I have to bring in more caregivers and I plan on having a notebook out where I can write instructions. I currently have one awesome caregiver who comes in during the day to care for Mom. We text frequently throughout the day and often meet up in the middle of the road when she is leaving and I am coming home. Communication has never been an issue. There will be three different caregivers working 4 hour shifts. What type of stuff should I include on this form? Here is what I have so far - tell me if I have missed anything: Wake time Did she eat breakfast time AM pills taken Blood sugar (time and results) What did she have for lunch Did she eat Bowel movement? exercise (completed P/T) Naps - length and time Dinner bedtime notes/comments/observations Can you think of anything I missed?
I would really hate to discover that She hadn't pooped in a week and we didn't notice because no one wrote it down.
I might be building in an overlap later, partially so that caregiver 2 has time to run errands.
Don't be surprised if there comes a time when the caregivers will stop writing down the information especially if it is the same thing each and every day, or they become too busy and it was time for the next caregiver to show up.
I have a comment section at the bottom as well as a shopping list. I have a check off box on the shopping list for myself or my lead caregiver to note if an item was ordered or purchased.
I don't really need to know the results of each bathroom trip but I need to know if she has not had a BM in several days. I think that can be accomplished with a simple check off box. There will be a space to write notes if they notice anything unusual.
I really like you suggestions about mood and participation level. I will incorporate those. Thanks
So - not being sure if how you listed things here is how you're going to list them in the notebook - I'm going to make that assumption and base my suggestions accordingly.
Some caregivers may just answer your questions with a "yes" or "no" - that wouldn't be enough for me but on the other hand you don't want to make the filling out of the form overly cumbersome. Whenever possible ask open ended questions.
I would write out complete questions that might look like this: "Breakfast time:
What was served? How much was consumed? What was appetite level?" Repeat format for each meal.
"Bathrooming. Time: voided results?" Allow multiple lines for this to be filled in each trip. "Overall mood". For mood you can list things to be checked if your are looking for something specific. "Happy" "Engaged" "Confused" "Frustrated" etc. Also who's doing the daily grooming/dressing and most importantly showering? I'd include those things. I would also want to know how the day was spent. "Activities": "Time spent on activity". "Level of participation"
Make a spot next to every item for the caregiver to initial.
I would begin the form with a space for you to write in - "Things you should know for today:". I verbally tell Rainmans caregivers things like - he's over due for a BM, he's been stemming on his hair - please redirect, he's been grumpy all morning at home, etc. Make sure you write something everyday- it shows that the form is important to you and you are requiring it to be filled out by each shift.
Lastly, I would put a place at the bottom - before the "addition comments" and have "Any supplies needed?" That shows you are relying on them to pay attention.
It's early and I've only had one cup of coffee - if I think of more I'll add with a new reply.