One of the things about being a Social Worker, is that a good Social Worker is skilled at first getting information from a client or patient. This is important because the Social Worker can then ensure that they provide information and support in relation to that person’s individual needs and preferences.
When a person is cognitively unable to fully express their wants and needs it is very useful to have a Health Passport which records the things that the person wishes to be known. This can assist a health service in finding how best to care for and support the person.
I have recorded a podcast on this and I think it is worth a listen. I will provide a link down the bottom of this page. The document has information about religious and cultural needs. Also, about activities the person enjoys and perhaps the most important thing, what foods a person likes and/or whether they will or will not eat certain foods.
A client of mine many years ago was an elderly lady who had been a model in her younger years. She had been told by a photographer that she must never eat peas as they would bloat her stomach and make her look fat. From that moment, she was never to eat peas again. Her husband was telling the story, because she was at that late stage unable to tell me about this, but it was something the husband felt strongly that needed to be known. She had such an aversion that if even the most delicious meal was dished up, that if peas were on the plate, then she would not eat her meal. Even if the peas were not touching anything else. The husband was concerned that should she go into residential care that she would stop eating if there were peas on her plate even if she were really hungry. So, that information was put in her Health Passport and her husband expressed relief that this information was available so that staff were aware not to give his wife peas.
There are sections on a number of topics and it is important that the person who is the subject of the passport, is included in the process of admission to hospital or residential care. It has information about what language a person speaks and whether they need an interpreter. It also talks about how best to communicate with a person. That might be in person or via text or video call. Checking whether the person has compromised hearing is useful as staff can then ensure that they have their hearing aids and that they are turned on. It also has information as to whether there is an Enduring Power of Attorney is in place and whether they have both Health and Property (anything to do with money) set up.
There are a number of different sections to complete and it can take some time. For people who are not used to form filling – unlike Social Workers who spend a lot of time doing so – it can be useful to have assistance from a Social Worker, GP or GP Practice Nurse.
Here is the link to the podcast. I hope you enjoy it and it proves useful.
My journey with Parkinsons 