Keeping records
Throughout this handbook we suggest that keeping records can help you to support your family member. Keeping records may save your family member from having to repeat medications that have not worked in the past or help you reconnect with a health professional who was particularly helpful in a crisis or other situation. It may also assist you to recognize what helps your family member stay well. Some family members have found it helpful to keep records via a journal. In the journal, they also note their own thoughts, experiences and perspectives. On this page, we give you tips and offer suggestions for keeping records.
What you may want to record:
- Names and contact information for health professionals working with your family member
- Appointment dates and purpose, what was done
- Hospitalization dates, unit numbers or names, discharge plans
- Medications, side effects, what worked and what didn’t
- Other treatments, what worked and what didn’t
- Periods of time when things are going well and what may be playing a part in wellness
- Crisis situations, what worked and what didn’t
- Names and contact information for particularly helpful health professionals, community organization contacts, pharmacists, employment counsellors, housing caseworkers, etc
- A copy of your family member’s wellness plan
- Dated correspondence
- Notes from meetings
- Information you’ve researched or received about your family member’s mental illness and any potential treatments or strategies that might be helpful
- Names and contact information for your family member’s friends, landlord and current employer(s) – this information can be particularly important in crisis situations, especially if you are trying to locate your family member
- Your family member’s car license plate number – this too may be helpful if you are trying to locate your family member
- Your family member’s social insurance and health card numbers
- Your family member’s employment history – this information may be helpful when helping your family member to apply for financial assistance or employment programs
- Information on dependants, for example names and phone numbers of a child’s school and teacher(s), name and phone number for child care provider(s)
- If your family member does not live with you, it may be helpful for you to have a spare key for her home in case you need to get in during an emergency
Tips for organizing information:
- You will need something to store the information that you record and collect. Some people find a three-ring binder is useful, especially the ones with pockets on the inside cover. Pocket inserts are also helpful when using a binder. Others use an expandable file or a zippered organizer with pockets that can hold letter-size paper. It is possible you will collect a fair amount of information. You will want to keep that in mind when choosing a tool that works for you. Whatever tool you think will make keeping records easier and will help you to find information quickly and easily is the right one for you.
- It is often helpful to keep information in order by date, with the most current information on top or at the front of the file.
- Keep a list of key contact names and numbers at the front or top of your file.
- Highlighting dates helps with filing and retrieving documents. Self- stick removable notes, coloured stickers or even tape can be used to identify important documents. Important documents may include those you need to review on a regular basis or that require follow up.