Caregiver Clients Need a Backup Care Plan
People Elderly or Disabled May Depend on Help Every Day & Holidays
Oct 17, 2009
Holidays are supposed to be a joyous time; but for many people elderly and/or disabled, the long hours of having to manage alone can be a struggle. Families that depend on outside caregiver help for a loved one who is elderly or disabled are put in a bind when the caregiver cancels.
What's worse, not having a caregiver to help with critical needs can escalate into a life-threatening emergency for elderly or disabled clients who live alone and have no one else to turn to. An aide or personal care attendant that calls and cancels at the last minute creates a real crisis situation. There may no substitute aid to cover the shift, particularly if it is a holiday.
A Solution to Caregiver Cancellations
A solution to caregiver cancellations is a backup caregiver plan. Families may choose a responsible member to take over an elderly parent or grandparent's care in the event an agency caregiver cancels out and there is no one else available. The same goes for the client with a disability; have a willing family member take over when an aid does not show up for work. In fact, it doesn't hurt to have at least 2 family members that can take over at any time.
The client who needs caregiver assistance on a daily basis or around-the-clock cannot risk having a caregiver cancel or not show up. When there are no family members to help out, and the caregiver agency has no replacement staff, the only other alternatives are help from friends and emergency medical help.
Choosing whether to ask a friend to pitch in as an aid or go to the hospital for care depends on the extent of the client's medical condition. A client who is severely disabled – quadriplegic and ventilator-dependent, for example – relies on aids around the clock. Depending on what kind of help is needed, allowing a friend to perform certain tasks in which he or she has no training is asking for trouble.
Creating a Backup Caregiver Plan
The elderly person or the disabled individual who does not have family, and who must rely on someone outside the home to assist with daily care, is encouraged to use his or her backup caregiver(s) from time to time. It is important that the substitute caregiver stay informed and up-to-date on the client's routine, medications, and specific needs.
Communication is important between a disabled or elderly client and the caregiver agency or private worker. Begin planning for backup caregivers well in advance of any holiday, but particularly Christmas. Play it safe with the caregiver agency and find out how the company intends to manage client care if there is a shortage of workers.
Keeping Caregivers Informed
The month prior to the Christmas holidays is also a good time to update client information with the caregiver agency so that the staff is reminded what extent of care is needed. There are many different levels of care: Sitter, companion, personal care assistant, aid, LPN (Licensed practical nurse), and RN (Registered nurse) to name a few. Different caregivers perform different tasks, and certain lower-level caregiver employees are not allowed to administer advanced medical treatments.
Old age or a disabling condition does not take a break for people that depend on home aids and trained assistants for getting in out of bed, preparing meals, and personal hygiene assistance. Regardless of the date on the calendar, clients may still need breathing treatments, medications, and assistance with everyday tasks.
Families are urged to recruit extra help in caring for a loved one during the busy holiday season. Individual clients with no family must make arrangements for alternative caregiver help through friends, other agencies, or private caregiver services. In an emergency and as a last resort, a person with a chronic life-threatening condition left stranded with no caregiver help may need to call emergency services for transportation to a medical facility. Plan ahead and expect caregiver cancellations. Have a backup person available who knows how to render the proper assistance.
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