Make a Plan

Finally, we're in the home stretch -- time to make a plan! You now have a solid understanding of change process, have strengthened relationships, heard plenty of change talk, and identified some common solutions. Let's get to the nitty-gritty of putting the plan into action.

Step 1: Set one goal, focus on one thing at a time

Set one goal together that is clear, specific, and achievable. For example: “To move safely around the home with the right tools in place.”

You may need to adjust goals that are not attainable. For example: "To have no fall moving forward." This is almost impossible, and even one fall can seem like a failure.

One Goal at a Time

You Will Get There

Step 2: Shere common solutions -- with permission

Ask for permission: Can I share a few solutions that have worked for others?

Once they agree, share one or two options: Some people pass their items on to their family like a niece. Some donate items to others who need them.

Step 3: Ask about next steps and summarize the plan

Ask: What do you think about the information/ideas I just shared?

Follow up: What do you think we should do next?

Summarize: Here's what we’ve talked about today. Then outline the plan with steps.

Here are some additional strategies from experienced social workers and home modification experts that you can use when making a plan with an older adult.

“Who else could benefit from this?"

Rosemary

Benefit othersRosemary

00:00 / 01:05

People want to know they can do what they want to do. So you trial periods. And hey, do you have a niece who might like that? It's a beautiful little carpet. Maybe we can find a great home for it. And the same things, if there's like piles and piles of things around, you never talk about throwing them out. You talk about, hey, let's reorganize them. And then when the reorganizing is starting to happen, you might say, hey, you know, You have 20 years of magazines here. How about we pare them down to two and we donate them to a local library? Yeah, I think a lot of times resistances, it's their personal possessions and they don't want it seen as junk. There's a reason that they're keeping it, according to them. So we try to use that sense of who else could benefit from this? Maybe you've benefited from this long enough. Let's share the wealth. So again, it's the reframing of things that's very important.

"Talking to their peers really help"

Helen

Helen peer influenceHelen

00:00 / 00:10

Peer influence is very important, yeah. If they have the peers do the same thing, they may listen. They will listen more than us.

“Encourage them”

Helen

EncouragementHelen

00:00 / 00:51

Encouragement is important too. When the senior don't, it's like not sure what to do, encourage them. Or once they did something, you know, encouragement, reinforcement, positive, you know, reinforcement. Let them know their action really a good one. Instead of saying all other, you know, lecturer, just, you know, try to jump to the point. See, you know, you did it. You're good. You make the smartest decision in your life, you know. More encouragement, more, give them more confidence, they will make a good decision.

If somebody's very resistant to taking up an area rug, a small little area rug, and it's right in the main pathway and they're shuffling, and as they walk by, your hand goes to your throat. You're so nervous that they're going to fall. Sometimes I'll say to them, you know what? I really think it would be so helpful for you to have a clear open path. Do you want to try it for a week? We'll just remove it for a week and see if that makes it easier to get around.

“Try it for a week”

Rosemary

Try it for a weekRosemary

00:00 / 00:34

If somebody's very resistant to taking up an area rug, a small little area rug, and it's right in the main pathway and they're shuffling, and as they walk by, your hand goes to your throat. You're so nervous that they're going to fall. Sometimes I'll say to them, you know what? I really think it would be so helpful for you to have a clear open path. Do you want to try it for a week? We'll just remove it for a week and see if that makes it easier to get around.

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