Do you play a part in supporting someone’s health and well-being?
If so, you might be an essential care partner.
What is an essential care partner?
An essential care partner is someone who supports another person while they use Fraser Health services. You might be a partner, spouse, daughter, son, parent, friend, paid caregiver, or roommate, etc. We think of you as an essential care partner.
As an essential care partner, you play an important part in the care experience of the person you support.
What do essential care partners do?
The help you give as an essential care partner will depend on the needs of the person you support. For example, you might:
- Share information about the person’s values and beliefs, and what matters to them
- Take notes at a medical appointment
- Help with personal care activities such as dressing
- Drive the person to medical appointments
- Provide comfort during a hospital stay
- Offer encouragement
- Confirm medications being taken or medical history
- Take part in planning to leave the hospital
Essential care partners improve the health care experience.
As an essential care partner, you are welcome in Fraser Health facilities all day, every day.
To learn more about becoming an essential care partner, take the Caregiving in Partnership with Fraser Health online course.
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How is your role as an essential care partner different from the role of a visitor?
You are part of the care team. You participate in the care of the person you support.
People who visit, spend time socially. They are not members of the care team. The needs of the person and the care environment will affect when people can visit. -
Steps you can take as an essential care partner
- Take the ‘Caregiving in Partnership with Fraser Health’ course
- Become familiar with the Essential Care Partner and Visitor Policy
- Talk about the essential care partner role with the person you support
- Ask them how they would like you to be involved in their care
- Introduce yourself to staff as an essential care partner
- If there is more than one essential care partner, decide who will be the main contact for health care staff
- Go to Family Caregivers of BC for more information you might find helpful
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Resources
For visitors
Visitors are different than essential care partners. Visitors are not members of the care team. They do not take part in care planning or care activities. Visitors are invited to visit with the people we serve for social reasons.
For answers to common questions about visiting, read What to Know About Visiting Here
Learn more about visiting our locations, and our information for patients and visitors.