Creating a caring bond is necessary for many reasons. The number one reason is peace of mind for caregivers and care recipients. This binder is a portable compilation of resources at your fingertips to help you in your role as a caregiver.
A care binder should contain as much information as is required for the care recipient's needs. It should be portable to go with caregivers and care, recipients when they visit health care providers. Most doctors will ask about the medications you are taking to ensure they have the most up-to-date list.
Make at least two copies of the care binder. Keep one copy at the care recipient's home and one copy with the caregiver. Update all copies as things change and put the date of change next to each entry. Input data ensures you have the most up-to-date information.
There are several options for creating a care binder and copies. A physical copy makes the most sense for the master copy to be placed with the care recipient. This way, all care providers who come to care recipients' homes have access to their information.
Another option, a copy, is a digital format. Digital format options include - smartphone apps or cloud or internet file sharing. This format can be useful in that you don't have to carry a binder, yet it's portable and easy to access the care recipient's information. I recommend creating a physical binding first and then determining which option to choose for the copy.
For a physical copy, choose a three-ring binder with a pocket on the inside of the front and back covers. Some binders have a zipped version to keep things from falling out, and some have pockets inside. Sheet protectors and card dividers help organize categories for quick and easy access.
As mentioned above, each binder should have as much information as is required and will also suit the needs of the care recipient. Below is a list of items that are included in a nursing binder. Select the items you think are necessary to create a binder and collect or create these documents.
Care recipient key information
List of emergency contacts
List of contacts for health professionals - doctors, physical, occupational and speech therapists, mental health specialists, social workers, pharmacies, etc.
A list of allergies, both drug and environmental, and how they present
Calendar of meetings
Medical records
Instructions for discharge from a hospital stay
Many copies of advanced guidelines, medical professionals who were provided with a copy and the date the copy was provided - the date provided is important because if a professional says they do not have a copy, this could be a red flag for their record's ability to maintain
Many copies of the Power of Attorney (POA), a list of professionals to whom a copy was provided, and the date the copy was provided - the date provided is important because if a professional claims they do not have a copy, this could be a red flag on their ability to keep records
Or a list of dietary requirements
List of sources of income, monthly expenses, payment information, who pays the bills, and repayment schedule
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