A care coordinator is a health care professional who organizes, manages, and monitors a person’s care plan, ensuring they receive appropriate services and support.
Tips & Links
In BC, care coordinators typically work with health authorities and may be involved in home and community care programs, which provide health care services to individuals who are eligible for publicly funded home care. They play a key role in enhancing the quality of life for patients while enabling them to stay in their homes for as long as possible. They may also be responsible for creating your personal care plan, setting up policies for safety and quality care, and organizing care hours and personnel based on your home care assessment.
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Care coordinators may:
- assess your health needs, personal situation, and care preferences.
- coordinate health care services, such as nursing, physiotherapy, personal care, and other therapies.
- act as a liaison between yourself, your family, your care partners and caregivers to ensure communication is clear and effective.
- monitor the progress of your care plan, making adjustments as necessary to ensure your needs are being met.
- navigate available resources, whether public or private, to access financial support, equipment, or specialized care.
- teach self-care techniques and support self-advocacy skills.
Things You Can Do
- Know that a care coordinator is usually the person to contact to organize your home care services, hours of care, any changes in personnel, or concerns you are having with your care.
- Learn about the differences of public versus private services and how they are funded from the Government of BC.
- Get to know your care coordinator and help them get to know your specific needs. Work on building a relationship of understanding and trust, so that they can better advocate for the care and resources you or your loved one need to live comfortably and safely.
- Review your personal care plan with your care coordinator regularly. Share any changes with your caregivers and care partners.
- Know about your patient rights including informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and the right to refuse or accept care.
- Develop your self-advocacy skills to ensure your questions are answered and your needs and decisions are heard.
- Ask questions of all your health care providers and seek clarification on anything you do not understand.
- Choose a health advocate to assist you when you are not feeling well or strong enough to complete these tasks on your own.
- Learn about ‘Patients as Partners’ from the Government of BC.
Add your Case Worker to your My Health Care & Business Professionals PDF tool and/or your Care Partners PDF tool found in My People. Include their contact information and any questions you have for them. Save to digital and print files.