Building these relationships takes time. There will be missteps, it’s overwhelming enough to see your person being cared for by other people that don’t know them like you do. Give yourself lots of time to think of questions you want to ask the staff.
Some examples are:
- What is the facility staff to resident ratio?
- When are meal times and snack times?
- What furniture or personal items can I bring?
- Is there a hairdresser on site?
- Is there an in-house doctor?
- When are baths and showers given?
- What amenities are included with the cost?
- Is there regularly scheduled activities?
- Are there recreational outings?
- Is there an outdoor space or garden?
- Does the facility have comfort accounts?
What the facility staff needs to know:
- Medications and supplements
- Medical conditions
- Any allergies
- Dietary restrictions
- Activities they enjoy and their interests
- Use of a wheelchair, walker or any other equipment
The Takeaway
Personally, after my mom broke her hip and I found her in her room without her walker or wheelchair nearby, that incident required a conversation with the nurses and care aides to find out why that happened. If she had fallen again, it would have resulted in another hospital stay.
As you get to know to the staff, you will feel more confident in voicing your concerns in a way that will get the desired result. Learning how to advocate for your person is very empowering. It lets the staff know that you always have your person’s best interest at heart and are willing to work together to resolve any issues relating to their care.
The early days will be stressful, and as always, please practice self-care. Your health and well being are very important. Give yourself time to absorb all of the changes.