Care Partners
What is a Care Partner?
Managing your health can be overwhelming and people need extra support from time to time. Care Partners provide that extra support and are by your side as you travel the road to optimal well-being. Working together, Care Partners are an important part of the healthcare support team and play a vital role in helping manage health problems and concerns.
How does the Care Partner program work?
The person who has health problems or concerns selects and invites a person to be a Care Partner. The Care Partner receives information and education on his/her role. Care Partners learn how to help others become more confident that they can manage and control their health problems and concerns. Care Partners receive a badge that allows the healthcare team to easily identify them.
Patients often need support from their Care Partners in a variety of areas. Care Partners may assist patients with areas such as:
- Offering support and encouragement
- Reading books/magazines
- Assisting with phone calls
- Bringing in food from home, as appropriate
- Praying with the patient
- Serving as family spokesperson to keep others updated on loved one's progress
- Liaising with physicians for questions/updates
- Managing visitors/protecting patient's sleep
- Educating visitors on proper hand hygiene
- Assisting with menu selection
- Participating in discharge education
- Monitoring fluids by recording intake/output
- Arranging for transportation out of the hospital
- Making follow up appointments
- Learning skills to prepare for home care
Ask your nurse about the Care Partners program.