Safe Care provides care that avoids injuries to the care-receiver or to the caregiver. I will add some examples for you:
- clearing the home of unsafe conditions
- safe lifting procedures and lifting devices when needed
- caregiver notes, emergency medical information, emergency contacts available
- training for caregivers
- emergency procedures for home caregivers re: calling 911, rescue workers, ambulances
Effective care is based on scientific knowledge. Again, some examples I might add include:
- caregiver training from the Red Cross in their new program
- caregiver support groups that provide education and other local city and state programs
- formal and informal training, books, internet
Personalized care respects the preferences, needs and values of the care-receiver. My additions of examples include:
- respecting preferences if someone wishes to remain in the home vs. facility
- treating care-receivers with respect for their values
- caregivers offering options and choices to the care-receiver when possible
- designing a customized care program specially tailored for the individual's satisfaction
For more about the other seven topics covered in Dr. Birkel's paper you can visit the RCI website.
