My Health Care & Business Professionals
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.
- Know it is important to include financial and legal professionals as they support your health and lifestyle planning in many ways.
- Include in your list
Contact information & details,
What type of services they provide,
Questions that arise between appointments & responses.
- 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. Save it to your cloud storage and download it to your phone.
Being a Partner in Your Health Care
‘Partners in Care’ refers to the collaborative relationship between health care providers, patients, and their families to ensure shared decision-making and holistic, person-centered care.
- Know that you have the right and responsibility to be involved in decisions about your own care.
- Work at asking questions, speaking up about what matters to you, and working with your health care team.
- Practice being a partner in your own care with the professionals who are helping you.
- Learn more about partners in care in the resource kit.
Knowing Your Rights as a Patient/Client
- You have the right to access insured health care services, without discrimination.
- You can accept, refuse, or discontinue treatments at any time.
- You are expected to make informed health care decisions, with the support of others, if needed.
- You can expect your personal health information is kept private and confidential.
Understanding Your Responsibilities in Your Health Care
- Communicate how you wish to be addressed by all points of contact in a health care setting, including your name and pronouns.
- Provide accurate health information by sharing complete and honest details about your medical history, symptoms, and lifestyle.
- Follow agreed upon treatment plans by adhering to prescribed medications, therapies, and follow-up appointments.
- Participate in care decisions by being actively involved in making choices about your health and treatments.
- Respect health care providers by treating them with courtesy and respect.
- Keep appointments by arriving on time or notifying the clinic if you need to cancel or reschedule.
“Having a family or primary care physician is a good thing. You may also see many other health care professionals who have different roles and expertise. You, and those supporting you in your health, might be the only ones that know all the health care professionals involved in your care. In today’s health care system, while support is offered by your physician or nurse practitioner, you are often expected to be responsible for the coordination of your health care. This means understanding who your specialists are, what are their roles, including all allied health professionals you rely on. Physiotherapists, social workers, nurse practitioners, counsellors and others, are all part of your health care team. In addition to your health care team, you probably also rely on the advice of legal and financial advisors. It is a good idea to keep an updated list of all these professionals who are important to you, your health, and your lifestyle.”
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.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Cloud storage access to your My Health Care & Professionals list. Save it to your phone for easy access.
Contacts app make a list of your ‘Health Care and Professionals List’
Notes app to record your health goals and questions for specific professionals.
Calendar app to record your last visit or communication with each professional.
“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
Recognizing When You Need Help
Everyone needs help at different times and stages of life. If you are experiencing health changes or challenges, have lost a spouse, or were recently hospitalized, you may need additional assistance. It’s important to reflect on the type of support you need as you adjust to these changes.
- Identify what kind of help you need and when you need it. Make a list of activities you need help with.
- Reflect on who in your life you trust and feel comfortable asking.
- Start small by asking for simple or short-term support. Mybe only one hour a day for a specific task.
- Be clear about what would be helpful (transportation, meals, getting to appointments, companionship, or childcare).
- Reach out by phone or email to start so you can write down what you need, when and how.
- Accept help when it’s offered instead of automatically saying no.
- Reassess your needs regularly as your situation or health changes.
Matching Your Care Partners with What You Need
- Consider the people who can support you personally, as well as those who might offer you professional support.
- Talk to family, friends, neighbours, or community members about how they can help with tasks, errands, transportation, advice, and professional services – any of the items on your list.
- 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 achieve.
- 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 Mywell MyCare Partners fillable PDF tool to record their contact information as well as how and when each person is able to help.
Understanding the Roles of Care Partners and Caregivers
Here is a comparison of caregivers and care partners, including what each role can do and how they are similar or different. Caregivers can definitely be part of your care partners team.
A Caregiver can
- Provide personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting).
- Assist with mobility (transfers, walking, exercises).
- Manage medications (reminders or administration, depending on training).
- Monitor health changes and report concerns.
- Support medical appointments and follow care plans.
- Offer emotional support during illness or recovery.
- Help with daily living tasks (meals, light housekeeping).
- Receive payment for services (professional caregiver, personal support worker) or be an unpaid family member.
A Care Partner can
- Provide companionship and social connection.
- Drive to appointments or errands.
- Pick up groceries, prescriptions, or mail.
- Prepare meals or help with household tasks.
- Check in regularly by phone or in person.
- Offer emotional encouragement and practical support.
- Help with household and outside chores.
- Offer services for free and as a gesture of community
Key Differences
- Caregivers often provide more direct, hands-on personal or medical support.
- Care partners may focus more on shared support, practical help, and connection.
- A caregiver role can be formal and structured, while a care partner role is often informal and collaborative.
- In many situations, the roles overlap — and one person may act as both a caregiver and a care partner depending on the needs involved.
“Everyone needs help and support at different times in their lives. If you are facing health changes or challenges, you may need to reach out and accept assistance from others. For many people, asking for help is not easy, especially when it means sharing personal information or welcoming others into your home and private space. It is important to explore your feelings about receiving support and to remember that needing help is not a weakness. The idea of care partners is about asking for support in ways that feel right for you — by identifying what you need, when you need it, and how you would like it provided. Then you can connect with trusted people who are willing to offer their time and skills – in many cases for free. Having care partners and staying connected to others can strengthen your well-being, reduce stress, and remind you that you do not have to manage everything alone.”
Tip
Explore your feelings about asking others for help or assistance. Think about your need for privacy and maintaining your independence.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Contacts app to list your friends, neighbours, and care partners.
Notes app to list the ways people can help & support you.
Calendar app for your schedule of who is helping when.
Cloud storage access to your My Care Partners List
“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 the 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(s)
Naming a Health Advocate
Choosing Your Health Advocate(s)
- Think someone you trust to help with gathering your personal health information, writing down your questions about your physical and emotional health, and supporting you during appointments.
- Know that often partners, spouses or adult children may naturally become your health advocate without being asked.
- 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.
- Think about having more than one health advocate- a partner or family member and possibly a close friend or neighbour?
- Talk about your personal boundaries and your 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.
- Add the name(s) and contact information of your health advocates to your personal Health Profile.
Questions for Potential Health Care Advocates
- Would you be willing to learn about my health condition, treatments, concerns & problems?
- Do you have the time and ability to take me to appointments if I should need your help?
- Can you understand me easily?
- Are you comfortable talking to physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals?
- Do you have experience dealing with the health care system?
- Can you keep my health and all that happens to me confidential and private?
- Can you write down information in a way that is easy for me to read and understand?
- Can you help me even when my choices are different from what you think is in my best interests?
- Do you see me as an individual capable of making my own decisions?
“One thing I have learnt along my health journey, is the importance of choosing a health advocate. In fact, in my case, I chose two daughters. Both are individuals I trust to help collect my personal health information and help me navigate the health care system with appointments, tests, and getting answers. Each of them has their own unique style of making sure my concerns are heard and supportin me in making decisions. I appreciate how they remind me to write down my questions and give me space to ensure they are covered at appointments. We also talk about my need for privacy and my personal boundaries for sharing my health information with other family members and friends. It gives me great peace of mind, knowing they understand my 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 Partner List and Health Profile fillable tools.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Contacts app to list your health advocate(s).
Cloud based access to your personal Health Profile.
Calendar app to share appointments & tests with your health advocate.
“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.”
Naming a Temporary or Substitute Decision-Maker
Understanding the Important of a Temporary or Substitute Decision-Maker
Planning ahead by naming a temporary or substitute decision-maker is an important step in protecting your health and personal wishes. If you live with a health condition or face the possibility of medical changes, having someone to make decisions on your behalf can provide clarity, reduce stress, and ensure your care reflects your values and choices. The benefits of having this discussion with those who care about you can;
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Ensure your wishes are respected if you cannot speak for yourself.
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Reduce stress for family members by clearly identifying who is to make decisions on your behalf.
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Prevent conflict or confusion among relatives about who should decide.
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Allow faster medical decisions in urgent or emergency situations.
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Protect your values and beliefs regarding treatment, life support, or end-of-life care.
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Provide clarity to health care professionals about who has legal authority to consent.
Having a Temporary Substitute Decision-Maker (TSDM)
- A temporary substitute decision-maker (TSDM) is an adult who can make health care decisions for you temporarily, if you are unconscious or unable to speak for yourself.
- You do not legally name a TDSM – if you cannot speak for yourself, your physician will choose someone from your TSDM list, usually starting with your spouse or legal partner, then your adult children, your sibling(s), or other adults you have named.
- Learn more about how TSDMs work and their responsibilities from the tools in the resource kit.
Naming Your Substitute Decision-Maker (SDM)
- Know that your SDM must be an adult who you trust and to make health care treatment decisions for you if you are unconscious or unable to speak for yourself, that will match your wishes.
- An SDM is someone you officially list to make health decisions for you if you have a long-term or serious condition that keeps you from being with yourself (basically the same criteria as for a TSDM except without the temporary part).
- Learn more about the difference between a TSDM and an SDM in the resource kit.
- Know that if you’re living with chronic, debilitating, or life-limiting health condition, you should definitely think about naming a formal substitute decision-maker.
- Be aware that to make it official, you need to create a representation agreement with help from either a lawyer or a notary.
- Know that your SDM can make decisions on your behalf about health care treatments, starting or stopping care, or housing placement.
- Save a print and digital copy of your representation agreement in your health files and on your phone, so it’s easy to find when needed.
“It’s a moment many of us fear — for ourselves or for someone we love — when a person can no longer speak or make decisions for themselves. It may happen suddenly through an accident, a rapid change in health, or at the end of a long illness. In these emotional moments, important choices about treatment or life-saving measures must be made, and without prior conversations, those decisions can feel overwhelming. In BC, if you cannot speak for yourself, a physician must seek consent from a relative. This person can be referred to as a temporary or a substitute decision-maker (TSDM/ SDM) – providing consent to treatment in the best interest of another. It is important to plan ahead if this day should occur so that your TSDM or SDM knows your wishes and can act accordingly.”
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.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Contacts app to list your health advocates and temporary or substitute decision-maker.
Cloud-based access to your personal Health Profile and Representation Agreement.
Notes app to share any end-of-life wishes, if you have them.
“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 & Caregivers
Exploring Your Feelings about Accepting Care
Sometimes in life – you might need help from others. Accepting help from others can bring up many different feelings. Taking time to think about your comfort level, choices, and boundaries can help make the experience more positive for both you and the people supporting you.
- Explore your feelings and concerns about having family members or others as caregivers and involved in your personal care.
- Consider what types of help you feel comfortable accepting (for example, help with meals, housekeeping, transportation, or personal care).
- Make sure the people helping you understand your personal values, beliefs, and cultural needs.
- Be clear about your wishes and boundaries. This might include how much conversation you prefer, where they sit or spend time when they are not assisting you, or the amount of noise you are comfortable with.
- Think about your privacy needs, especially during personal care activities such as bathing, dressing, or medical tasks.
- Learn about personal boundaries, privacy, and confidentiality in the resource kit.
Communicating Your Needs to Others
Taking time to write down how you want support and sharing your wishes with others, can help build positive relationships. If you are unable to communicate easily with others, consider asking your health advocate to speak and inform others, on your behalf. Here are some suggestions from others who receive help or have been caregivers themselves.
- Consider who you trust most to help you and how involved you want different people to be in your care.
- Discuss expectations with caregivers so everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.
- Use emails, text messages, or phone apps to update people when your health changes or when you need help.
- Start a WhatsApp group that you can message daily with your needs, gratitude and successes.
- Post a paper calendar showing who is helping, when they are helping, and what tasks they are assisting with.
- Schedule regular check-ins with your care partners – family members or caregivers – to see if they are feeling connected.
- Ask your family and care partners about their own limits and boundaries—such as time, space, health, and financial considerations.
- Create your own Mywell Health binder and have it accessible to others. Include your Health Profile, Health Care & Professionals list, personal care plans, and your Care Partners list (who can help with what).
- Consider using written notes, visual reminders, or communication aids, if communication is difficult due to hearing, speech, or memory challenges.
- Be honest about what help you need and what you prefer to do independently.
- Stay flexible when plans change or unexpected challenges arise.
Ways You Can Support Your Family, Caregivers & Care Partners
- Communicate openly about your needs, preferences, and concerns.
- Express appreciation regularly for the help and support they provide.
- Share important health information so caregivers feel informed and prepared.
- Use your Mywell Health planner/binder to keep your personal care plan, daily schedules, list of ways to support you, dietary preferences, and more. Having caregivers refer to your recorded information – reduces repeated questions.
- Respect all caregivers time, personal responsibilities, and boundaries. Ask how they are doing and what support they may need.
- Encourage caregivers to take regular breaks and care for their own health and well-being.
- Schedule regular time off so caregivers can rest, travel, or focus on their own responsibilities.
- Arrange for others from your care partners list – friends, or volunteers – to help when your primary caregiver needs a break.
- Consider hiring respite care or private home support services when additional help is needed.
- Acknowledge that caregiving can sometimes be stressful and show patience and understanding.
- Work together to find solutions when challenges arise.
Finding Resources to Support Your Family Caregivers
Anyone who is, or has been, a family caregiver can attest to how demanding this role can be. Caregivers often balance many responsibilities while supporting the health and well-being of someone they care about. To better understand their experiences and needs, consider exploring caregiver websites and organizations that provide guidance, practical tips, and support resources.
- Family Caregivers of BC offer support to family caregivers in BC. Free, provincial, non-profit organization that offers peer support, education sessions, tools and resources. Also. 1:1 counselling through their Caregiver Support line Toll-free at 1-877-520-3267.
- Family Virtual Caregiver Groups provides access to free, peer support and virtual groups of family caregivers throughout BC. Supported by the Family Caregivers of BC.
- Healthlink BC is a free, provincial online services for caregivers. By calling 811 you can speak with a registered nurse 24/7. Also, other professionals such as Dietitians are available (Mon to Fri 9am-5pm), and Pharmacists (Mon-Sun 5pm to 9am). Translation services are also available.
- BC211 provides free, provincial information and referral to a variety of community, government, and social services. Interpretation is available in 240+ languages and dialects. Dial 211 for assistance.
“Dear Caregiver,
I want to take a moment to thank you for the care, patience, and kindness you show me each day. I understand that supporting someone else’s health and well-being can be both meaningful and demanding. Your time, energy, and compassion do not go unnoticed, and I truly appreciate the many ways you help make my daily life easier and safer. I respect that you have your own responsibilities, needs, and limits, and I want to be mindful of them. Please know that your well-being matters to me as well. I hope we can continue to communicate openly about what is working well and where we may need support. Your presence and support make a real difference in my life. Thank you for being there for me.”
Tip
Explore your feelings about asking others for help or assistance. Think about your need for privacy and maintaining your independence, as able.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Contacts app to list healthlin BC 811, 211 for access to a registry of services, and caregiver supports.
Cloud storage access to your personal Health Profile, Health Care & Professionals list, & Care Partners list.
Calendar app to note care partners and caregiver’s dates and times.
WhatsApp to inform group of updates, changes or needs.
