Nextstep_icon

Next Step in Care: Family Caregivers & Health Care Professionals Working Together

For Health Care Providers

 

“Family Caregiver in Crisis: Using Next Step in Care” demonstrates how a health care or social service provider can use Next Step in Care guides and tools to support a family caregiver through a transition crisis. This scenario was taken from the real life experiences of a group of community-based organizations.

Opportunity: A trusted service provider follows up with a family caregiver and learns of the crisis.

Suggestion: Hear out the family caregiver. Set aside the agenda for contact, and be present to listen to the family caregiver's concerns. This is "where the caregiver is" - until these concerns are heard and addressed in a way that meets the caregiver's needs, the caregiver is unlikely to be able (or willing) to discuss other topics.

Opportunity: The family caregiver has identified several areas about which she feels she needs additional information.

Suggestion: Follow the family caregiver's lead regarding information. Walk with her through the process of gaining information (going to the Next Step in Care website together, assisting her to find information that addresses her concerns). Where possible, have the family caregiver navigate the site independently, which builds a sense of engagement and control.

Opportunity: Next steps.

Suggestion: Discuss what the family caregiver feels are the next steps in the situation, such as talking with the discharge planner regarding home care versus inpatient rehabilitation. Guide the family caregiver through identification of her own list of questions or points of concern, so she can be focused and a strong advocate for her family member. This may need to be in a later conversation, after she has had time to review the information she has chosen. Be sure to discuss the material with her, as relates to the concerns she voiced earlier, so you can elicit her current understanding of the situation and update yourself on what has changed.

There are several other opportunities for engagement demonstrated in the video, and we hope you find this video helpful in supporting family caregivers using Next Step in Care. As always, this website’s resources are free and available.

Site MapContactHomeTerms of Use
© 2015 United Hospital Fund