Five steps for care planning
Start with the decision that needs to be made now. You do not need to resolve every future question at the same time.
Pause.
For a medical concern, ask the treating clinician how urgently it needs attention. These steps are for planning care, not deciding whether symptoms need medical attention.
Focus on the decision.
Write down what needs to be decided now and what can wait.
Organize what you know.
Separate what you know from what is unclear. List the questions you need answered.
Agree on who is doing what.
Identify who is deciding, who is coordinating, and who needs to be kept informed. Include the person receiving care and respect their wishes and permissions.
Choose a next step.
That may be gathering records, preparing questions for an appointment, or researching a care option.
If you need help with one of these steps, we can talk about the work you want to get done.