A spreadsheet reset helps me manage my caregiving team for the new year
I have an amazing crew of around 30 friends who assist me with my care
Written by |
I recently returned home from a seven-week holiday at my parents’ house.
It’s become my annual tradition, and for a lot of reasons. It gives me a good chunk of quality time with my family, and the weather in the South is usually at least 10 degrees warmer than it is at my house in Indiana. Another perk is that it gives my caregiving team a break, and it gives me a mental break from managing them.
Because I live with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), I need almost 24-hour assistance. And because I live in my own house without roommates or family members, I have a pretty amazing crew of around 30 friends in Indiana who assist me with my care — everything from giving me a shower to preparing my meals and running errands. We keep the chaos of it all mostly in order through a shared Google spreadsheet.
Setting the schedule
Seven columns across the spreadsheet represent the seven days of the week. For each day, there are four rows below, representing four blocks of time: morning (6 a.m.-8 a.m.), midday (10 a.m.-noon), afternoon (3 p.m.-5 p.m.), and evening (9 p.m.-6 a.m.). I need to have the name of one caregiver in each of these 28 slots every week.
Some people sign up for one shift a week, while others opt for multiple shifts. Additionally, some sign up with a buddy to alternate weeks of one shift. I try to keep the spreadsheet updated, showing about 10 to 12 weeks at a time, so that my volunteer caregivers have a chance every quarter to either change up their responsibilities or take a break.
To the right of the calendar on the spreadsheet, I keep a running list of everyone’s names and phone numbers, in case someone needs to cancel or trade shifts, so they can network and make those changes themselves. It’s taken us a couple of years to work out the kinks, but I think we’ve finally figured out a system that works for us.
After New Year’s, a week before my return, I began updating the spreadsheet. I realized early on that if I send a mass email or text to everyone, asking them to check the spreadsheet and fill in their own spots, I don’t get much of a response. The most effective way to get responses is to send individual texts to each of the 30 friends. Yes, that is as tedious and daunting as it sounds!
This extra work annoyed me at first, but I have learned to make it a positive thing for all of us by sending a handful of messages at a time over the course of three days, making them personal, and praying for them. This helps me reconnect with them relationally, reminds me of how much I care about them, and makes me eager to see them again.
My goal is to have three months of care scheduled and ready to go before I get home. There are always a few gaps left over by that deadline, but once I see people again and let them know about these gaps, they fill them in. The trick is to keep an eye on the calendar week by week and communicate with my team.
It is a lot of work, but it is completely worth it!
Note: SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of SMA News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to spinal muscular atrophy.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.