Whose care is it?
It's your parent's. At Birchmere the person receiving care outranks everyone. A family member or someone they nominate can help, but can't overrule them.
If you and your parent see things differently, your coordinator talks to your parent privately, and they decide.
Where you agree
Where your parent agrees, we tell the family what they've decided. We don't use family pressure to change their mind.
Agree who knows what
- Talk with your parent about who should hear how visits are going.
- Choose one main contact in the family, so your coordinator isn't answering the same questions from several people.
- Ask your care coordinator how updates can reach the family members your parent chooses.
- If your parent doesn't use the website, a phone call to the coordinator works just as well.
What to look at, and what to leave
Do look at the visit summaries
Each one says what was done, how your parent seemed and anything worth passing on.
Do leave the daily detail
Your coordinator reads the summaries at least weekly, and anything that needs following up reaches them the same day.
Do raise changes with the coordinator
If something should be done differently, your coordinator is your point of contact.
Don't turn the visit into an inspection
Companions are there as company. A visit is friendlier when your parent doesn't feel watched.
Staying close in small ways
- A call on the same day each week.
- Ask your parent how the visit was, not just what got done.
- Share a bit of family news, so your parent has something to talk about.
- Send a photo for the fridge.
- Thank the companion. It matters.
If something worries you
Tell your care coordinator straight away. If you're ever unhappy, you can raise a concern or a complaint, and it will be acknowledged.
