Creating a Care Plan That Works for Your Family

The Henderson family reached out to us because they were already exhausted. They had already tried two home care agencies, but neither worked out. Susan Henderson stated it sounded like that they were trying to fit her mother into a system. My mom has her routines that ensure her dignity. Also, that makes her comfortable. Moreover, previous caregivers tended to just tick the box.

This experience is unfortunately common. Many families do not find generic care plans useful as they do not cater to the specific needs of their loved ones. Rather, it disrupts the situation more instead of providing comfort and care.

At First Choice Personal Care and Living Solutions, we believe care plans begin with active listening and evolve through continual partnership. Discover our personalized care solutions that work for families just like yours.

Standard care assessments usually assess physical ability: Can your loved one bathe alone? Prepare meals? Manage medications? Although these functional assessments are helpful, they don’t quite give the full picture.

Effective care planning goes deeper by exploring.

• Daily rhythms and preferences: Think about when your loved one would feel most comfortable getting married. Do they carry out hygienic practices that should help them feel good and dignified? 
• Life history and values: A life history and values helps the caregiver to connect in a meaningful way with the care receiver. Knowing the person’s background, career and values makes the caregiver more able to give care in a way that respects the identity of the care receiver.
• Emotional and social needs: Do they like chatting or prefer silence on spend time with their loved one type of person.  What activities bring them joy and purpose?
• Family dynamics and involvement: How do family members want to remain involved in a patient’s care and what would they be comfortable leaving up to others?

 Susan explained to us that once our care coordinator spent time really knowing Mom’s teaching career, her love for classical music, why she takes showers only in the evening, everything changed. The caregiver they paired with her engages with Mom as a human, rather than as a series of care tasks.

Care plans are essential for caregivers to fulfil the maximum potential of the individual. Likewise, they set clear guidelines for families and effective response of monitoring and adjusting care. Here’s what should be included.

1. Clearly Defined Goals

Every care plan should note what success looks like short and long term.

• Immediate comfort and safety goals: You could say that immediate comfort and safety goals are ones that respond to urgent concerns, like falling or nutrition.
• Quality of life goals: Aims to stay in touch with others and to keep playing favourite past time.
• Family relief goals: Minimizing particular stressors for family caregivers.
• Independence goals: Is to help your loved one keep their skills and independence, if possible.

2. Detailed Daily Routines

Specificity matters tremendously in care execution.

• Morning routines: what time I wake up, what I eat, what meds I take.
• Hygiene preferences: Bath or shower? Specific products? Privacy considerations?
• Activity planning: What activities bring you joy and purpose? When is your loved one most energetic?
• Evening wind-down: Bedtime routines that promote relaxation and good sleep.

3. Special Considerations and Techniques

Personalization often lies in the details.

• Communication approaches: Essential communication technique for those with hearing impairment, cognitive alterations. 
• Mobility assistance: Specific transfer techniques that work best.
• Dietary preferences and restrictions: Are more than nutritional requirements but also food preferences. 
• Emotional support strategies: Strategies for providing emotional support: know how to respond to anxiety, confusion or distress 

4. Family Communication Plan

• Clear communication prevents misunderstandings.
• Update frequency and method: How often to update it and how? Daily notes? Weekly calls? Digital portal access?
• Emergency contact protocol: Meldon law or a close friend or family member is usually the best options.
• Decision-making framework: How do caregivers make choices in the hospital and which need consulting?

The most effective care plans evolve over time. Regular reassessment ensures care remains appropriate as needs change:

• Scheduled reviews: Formal reassessments every 3-6 months
• Trigger-based reviews: After hospitalizations, falls, or significant health changes
• Observation-based adjustments: When caregivers notice subtle changes in needs or preferences

For the Henderson family, this adaptability proved crucial. “Mom initially needed just companionship and light housekeeping,” Susan shared. “When she developed arthritis in her hands, our care coordinator adjusted the plan to include more help with meal preparation and dressing. There was no disruption—the care simply evolved as Mom’s needs changed.”

Family members often worry that bringing in professional caregivers means stepping back from their role. In reality, professional care works best when it complements family involvement:

• Define roles clearly: Which aspects of care will family handle, and which will caregivers manage?
• Play to strengths: Professional caregivers can handle physically demanding or time-intensive tasks, freeing family for meaningful connection
• Maintain communication: Regular updates ensure family remains connected to daily experiences
• Preserve special traditions: Identify activities that are meaningful for family to continue

“Our caregiver handles Mom’s daily care needs,” explained Susan, “but Saturday morning coffee remains our special mother-daughter time. Having help with the demanding tasks actually improved our relationship—we can focus on enjoying each other’s company rather than task management.”

Every family’s care journey is unique. What works perfectly for one person may not fit another, even with seemingly similar needs. That’s why cookie-cutter approaches to care planning so often fall short.

At First Choice Personal Care and Living Solutions, our care planning process begins with listening—to your loved one’s preferences, to your concerns as family members, and to the subtle details that make your situation unique. We then build a flexible, evolving plan that honors your loved one’s dignity while providing the support they need to thrive.

Are you ready to explore what a truly personalized care plan might look like for your loved one? First Choice Personal Care and Living Solutions is offering complimentary care consultations with no obligation.

Call (317) 218-7722 today to schedule your consultation at your convenience—in your loved one’s home, at our office, or virtually. Our experienced care coordinators will take the time to understand your unique situation and help you explore options that truly work for your family.

Don’t settle for care that doesn’t quite fit. Contact us online or by phone to begin creating a care solution as unique as your loved one.

Your family deserves care that feels just right—let’s create it together.