My Health Care & Business Professionals
Changes in your health may mean you are meeting and needing new or different health care professionals. Confirming your health care support team should help you get the care you need and help with the coordination of services. Include all the business professionals who are important to you, your health, and your lifestyle.
Keeping a List of Health Care & Business Professionals
- Start a list of all your health care and business professionals including your physician, nurse practitioner, specialist, clinical counsellor, dietitian, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, registered massage therapist, accountant, lawyer, financial planner, power of attorney and others.
- Include their contact information, what type of services they provide, how they are helping you, and questions that arise between appointments.
- Keep the list up to date in print and/or digitally.
- Consider starting a ‘special’ contact list on your phone with all the information suggested above. Remember, the information on your phone or an app is not always secure or private.
- Download the My Health Care & Business Professionals fillable PDF tool below.
Being a Partner in Your Health Care
- Be confident in sharing with health care professionals how you want to be treated, such as how you want to be spoken to and how much time you need to make informed decisions.
- Be courteous, ask questions, and carefully listen to the responses.
- Share information from other members of your health care team, ask for explanations, and offer thanks for the information and care provided.
- Learn how to communicate your concerns and wishes with health care professionals.
Tip
Create your professional support team. Learn about partners in care and how being an active participant in your care can improve your health care experience.
“We need to view ourselves as ‘partners in our care’. As patients, we need to bring our thoughts, choices, and ideas to the health care relationship. We also have a responsibility to actively participate, seek information, and engage in discussions. We cannot rely only on health care professionals for all the answers. Additionally, we need to commit to following suggested health practices like diet, exercise, therapies and medications that can benefit our daily health.”
Identifying My Care Partners
Choosing Care Partners
Everyone needs help and assistance at different times in their lives. If you are facing health changes or challenges, you may need to reach out and accept help from others. It is important to explore your feelings about asking others for assistance as you consider who might be able to offer their time, skills, and knowledge to support you.
Choosing Your Care Partners
- Consider the people who can support you personally, as well as those who might offer you professional support.
- Make a list of what you need help with. Talk to family, friends, neighbours, or community members about how they can help with care, tasks, errands, transportation, advice, and professional services.
- Choose people who offer emotional support, validate your feelings, and show respect and understanding.
- Express your need for independence and choose people who bring skills you are currently unable to provide.
- Discuss your personal boundaries when and how you want help, and your need for privacy and confidentiality.
- Explore ways care partners can offer comfort and assistance from ideas in the resource kit.
- Download the MyCare Partners fillable PDF tool below to record contact information as well as how and when each person is able to help.
Tip
Explore your feelings about asking others for help or assistance. Think about your need for privacy and maintaining your independence.
“Working within the healthcare system, I’m keenly aware of the gaps in services for seniors. Recognizing this, I believe that it’s crucial for family, friends, and neighbors to come together and provide some of the necessary assistance. I took initiative and started Mywell Health planning for my neighbour. Together, we reached out to individuals who could contribute to her care partners list. I was happy to find that most people we approached were more than willing to lend a hand. I have found satisfaction in being able to offer my assistance and contribute positively to her well-being.”
Choosing My Health Advocate
Naming a Health Advocate
Consider choosing a health advocate to help you with collecting your personal health information, navigating the health care system, ensuring your concerns are heard, and providing support in your decision-making.
Choosing Your Health Advocate
- Think about naming someone you trust with gathering your personal information, writing and asking questions about your physical and emotional health, decision-making, and being your companion during health care visits.
- Consider asking someone who is already a care partner, like a family member, friend, or neighbour.
- Learn more about the role of a health advocate in the resource kit.
- Discuss your personal boundaries and right to privacy and confidentiality with the person(s) you choose.
- Learn about choosing a temporary or substitute decision-maker. Your health advocate may be a good choice for this role, as they are familiar with your health status and wishes.
Tip
Inform your family and health care providers about your choice for a health advocate and their role in your care and support. Add your health advocate to your Care Partners and Health Care & Business Professionals fillable tools.
“As a mom, daughter, and wife of a physician, I have experienced firsthand how important it is to be an active participant in our own health care. To ask questions, invite others to be with us during appointments, and to have a place to capture notes. Many dinner table conversations at our home include stories of people’s suffering and the challenges of unwell individuals and their family navigating health issues. Sadly, many are without a family doctor and some are dealing with health problems without family to assist. When asked to beta test Mywell Health for seniors, I realized how much we can do on our own. This tool is a valuable resource creating stability with structure and guidance not only for the unwell person but for family and community members who are nearby supporters. While we need access to the health care system for testing and treatment, we can also have discussions with loved ones about our future, daily support, and available options. Mywell Health serves as a common connection point for these conversations.”
Choosing a Temporary or Substitute Decision-Maker
There may be a time when it is difficult for you to communicate your decisions or provide informed consent. Before this happens, it is important to name those who can speak on your behalf.
Naming Your Temporary Substitute Decision-Maker (TSDM)
- Choose a temporary substitute decision-maker who is an adult and capable of making health care treatment decisions for you, if you are unconscious or unable to speak for yourself.
- Know that if you cannot speak for yourself, your physician chooses someone from your TSDM list, usually starting with your spouse or partner, then your adult children, your sibling(s), or others you have named.
- Learn more about the role and responsibilities of a TSDM in the resource kit.
Naming Your Substitute Decision-Maker (SDM)
- Learn the difference between a TSDM and an SDM.
- If you have a debilitating or life-limiting health condition, consider naming a formal substitute decision-maker.
- Choose an SDM who is an adult capable of making health care treatment decisions for you, if you are unconscious or unable to speak for yourself.
- Work with either a lawyer or a notary to complete a representation agreement that legally names your SDM.
- Know that your named SDM can consent to treatment, withdrawal of treatment, or housing placement on your behalf, based on your wishes if known.
- Keep a print and digital copy of your representation agreement in your Mywell Health files.
Tip
The people you choose to advocate and make decisions on your behalf should be aware of your current values, beliefs, and end-of-life choices. Learn more about these roles under the term advance care plan in the resource kit.
“My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and in a short period of time he was having difficulty speaking. It was suggested we get a representation agreement to confirm that I was his SDM and also to list a TSDM – if I was not available. We talked about the questions that were suggested and he was able to make the decision naming our son as his TSDM. Some of the questions we discussed were:
- Am I comfortable talking with this person about my wishes and priorities for my health care?
- Does this person know my values and beliefs?
- Does this person live near me, or would they come to be with me if needed?
- Can this person honour my wishes when I can no longer speak for myself?
- Can this person handle conflicting opinions from my family, friends, and health care providers? Is this person 19 years or older?
- Has this person been in contact with me over the past year?
We also used My Voice – An Advance Care Planning Guide to help us have the discussion and record our wishes.”
Communicating with My Care Partners
Communicating your needs and wishes effectively with your family, care partners, caregivers and health care professionals can help to give you a sense of control over your health and lifestyle choices. Communicating effectively means sharing your needs and wishes and listening to suggestions and concerns from those who support your lifestyle.
Communicating with My Care Partners
- Explore your feelings about having family members and others involved in supporting your health and lifestyle choices.
- Be clear with caregivers, family, and care partners about your personal boundaries and wishes for privacy and confidentiality.
- Send emails, texts, or use apps to communicate changes in your health or when and how you need help.
- Be clear about what you can and cannot do to set realistic expectations for everyone involved.
- Ask your family and care partners about their limitations and boundaries such as time, space, health, and financial issues.
- Learn how to support your care partners through resources from Family Caregivers of BC.
- Talk with a clinical counsellor for advice and strategies, if you choose.
- Create a written personal care plan outlining your daily needs and how others can help, so you don’t have to repeat yourself.
Tip
Learn how to support your care partners and caregivers through resources from the Family-Caregivers of BC.
