Once you have assessed and analyzed your caregiving
situation, the next step is to develop A
Plan of Action. The first thing one
should do in developing a plan of action is to get organized. Eboni Green wrote "Without adequate planning
how will we know where we are going?
More importantly, what will tell us that we have arrived at our desired
destination? You can start getting
organized by pondering on some of the following:
Getting Organized
A) Do you know anyone who currently provides care to a loved one or
works in a caring capacity that you may be able to collaborate with, talk to
and/or support?(List their name and phone
number below):
B) Do you have the proper paperwork in place to make
health care and/or financial decisions on behalf of your loved one?
Explore www.abanet.org/publiced/resources/home.html
for legal definitions and other pertinent legal resources. Also check out www.agingwithdignity.org
for a cost-effective durable power of attorney program for that's acceptable in
most states.
C) Do you know your loved ones SS#, Bank Account #'s, Insurance papers
and where other pertinent documents are located. Great stress reliever if you do and a possible meltdown if you
don't.
D) One day your loved one may need assistance with transportation and
with the price of gas we may all need some assistance with transportation, what
is your game plan? This same question
can be asked in regards to assistance with your loved ones personal care and
financial matters. Even if you're loved one is not 50+ the information found at
www.aarp.org
may provide you with some assistance in answering these type of questions and
putting together a short and long-term game plan.
E) Who will be involved in my loved ones care process? List family members, case/care managers,
doctors, therapists, neighbors etc. and phone numbers
Begin
Reviewing Your Plan Immediately:
You should immediately begin reviewing your plan by scanning
it over to ensure it is a complete picture of your mission and vision. Feel free to make adjustments as needed or
just review it if it is an accurate representation. Make sure action steps are included and your goals are well
defined. Post the plan in a place where
you see it a couple of times per day.
Before
implementing your plan check to see:
ü Is your
plan flexible? Make sure the plan has
room for adjustments in thoughts and ideas.
ü Will the
plan maintain your interest? Be the
plan is worth executing and that the steps that have been laid out will keep
your interest.
ü Are the
goals well defined? The key to
achieving goals is to have them well defined.
When goals are not well defined, trying to meet them can keep you ina
state of confusion which may lead to unnecessary stress.
If you've made this far, WE SALUTE YOU!!!!!!!!!
Let's move
on to Step 3: Execute Plan.
