Follow through to INFINITY and Beyond!

One thing I keep coming back to is how important following through with those who take care of our loved ones is for consistent efforts in their care.

Fact is that in the Caregiver Industry "Turn Over" is frequent and quick!

You just get the current individuals trained and know who they are and BAM!!!! they disappear and a whole new set of caregivers become involved.

Within a matter of a week or even a few days those you met are no longer caring for your loved one.

Thankfully, I have found that the supervisors change as well, however it is at a slower rate. This is where being able to FOLLOW UP and keeping in the loop is so important.

Being persistent is NOT being a pest or even micromanaging anything. It is simply the best way to insure that all entities involved with my brother are in the know and that Paul's care is consistent with attention placed on those items needing more concern at the moment.

For ex: I noticed that my brother's teeth were full of plaque and was pretty

            sure he hadn't seen a dentist since the new company took over about

           18 months ago...probably been at least two years. I had the medical

           tech's(aka scheduler) phone number and texted him a couple times

           to see about getting this taken care of as well as getting Paul into his

           PCP sooner for one of his medical concern follow-ups. I heard nothing

           for the next week and a half. I (being persistent) sent him an email.

           It took two days for him to respond but he did and yes he took Paul

           to the dentist and will be taking him to get a cavity filled this next

           week; plus, he will be in with his PCP a week earlier so the

           current issues with his hemorrhoids would be addressed.

                               (I know TMI but hey it is what it is.)

Family members who are involved in their loved one's care are vital to the type of care given, the quality of the care, and the consistency in its delivery.

We as family members and guardians have a unique and privileged position of assisting with the overall quality of life for our family member who has TBI.

We NEVER need to feel like we are intruding or are out of line.

We are the lifeline for the services as well as for our brother, father, sister, mother, grandmother, grandfather, son, daughter, husband, or wife.

Thus, FOLLOW through on our part is very, very important. As Buzz Lightyear, from Disney-Pixar's Toy Story, always says...."To Infinity and Beyond!"

YES! It IS that IMPORTANT!!!