Develop a care plan for managing your health

Having a plan to manage your health becomes increasingly important as you get older. It’s not something you want to leave to chance — especially during a pandemic when there are so many unknowns. Creating a care plan can help you and your loved ones stay informed, so you can handle medical situations that arise with confidence.

If you have a health condition such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease, it’s vital to have a plan for managing your health in changing circumstances. If you’re a caregiver for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, a care plan can help you navigate day-to-day medical needs as well as caregiving challenges. Having a detailed care plan can improve management of chronic health conditions and reduce the stress of emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Create your care plan

A care plan is a summary of your health conditions, medications, health care providers, health insurance information, emergency contacts, caregiving resources and end-of-life care choices. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an easy-to-use care plan document available to download. You can fill out your care plan with input from a caregiver or family member, or with help from your doctor.

Here are some steps to consider as you create your care plan:

• Connect with your medical team and ask about community resources to help you navigate caregiving needs and health care decisions. Discuss your current medications and treatments, and get referrals needed for any additional services.
• Designate a medical power of attorney or health care agent if you don’t already have one. Discuss what you’d like to have happen in the event you cannot speak for yourself, and be sure they can handle making difficult decisions.
• Share copies of your care plan with your doctor, family members or caregivers involved in your care. Keep a copy at home where your loved ones can easily access it.
• Review and update your care plan and other important documents every year, or whenever you have a change in your health.

Build your support team

Having a plan in place can give you a feeling of control over your future and also help you stay connected with the support you need. To learn more about senior services and resources available through CarDon & Associates, call us at 844-4-CarDon or visit www.cardon.us.

Sources:

CDC. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Older Adults. April 7, 2020. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/older-adults.html