Being Involved in Your Care

Being involved in your care means:

• participating in making decisions about your treatment

• asking your care team questions so that you can make informed choices

• taking an active role in your therapy

• knowing what to do when you leave Toronto Rehab

You know the most about your own health. It’s important that you tell your care team everything you can, even if you think they may already know or it is not important.

Tell your care team if:

• you are not feeling well right now or have recently been sick

• you are taking any medicine

• you have had surgery or other hospital or health care treatment

• you have a chronic illness, such as diabetes or heart disease

• you have a family history (illness that runs in your family) of high blood pressure, asthma, cancer or other health conditions

• you have a history of tobacco, drug, or alcohol use

It is also important to tell your care team about any allergic or bad reactions you have had to medications or food.

• Reactions can include rashes, headaches, breathing trouble, feeling sick or just feeling different.

• Some medicines have food in them (e.g. eggs are used in the preparation of the flu shot), so be sure to talk about your food allergies as well as medication allergies.

• Tell a member of your team right away if a new medicine makes you feel unwell.

Here are some more tips to help you be involved in your care and stay safe:

• Understand your diagnosis (the medical condition(s) that you have).

• Talk about your treatment plan with your care team. Make sure that you understand and agree with the plan.

• Know about your treatments. Ask what your treatments are for and when they will be given. Question anything that seems different or that you do not understand.

• Understand why and how you should take certain medications.  

• If you are in pain, tell your care team. Most pain can be helped. You and your care team can manage your pain together.

• You may get a lot of information at once. This can be confusing. You can take notes or ask your family member or friend to listen with you at any time. Times that may be more confusing can include when a diagnosis, treatment plan, test results or plans for discharge from Toronto Rehab are explained.

• If equipment is used for your care, know what it does and how it should sound and look.

• If possible, choose one family member to talk with your care team. This person can then pass along information to other family and friends.

• Participate in educational sessions to learn more about your current situation and what you should expect in the future.

Your care team can give you more information about being involved in your care.

Family and friend involvement in your care

Family and friends also play an important role on the care team. They can help you set goals and make decisions, and provide ongoing support, care and guidance. With your permission, we will encourage your family and friends to participate in some of your therapy sessions to learn and practice the skills they need to help you. 

We may hold a care conference soon after you get to Toronto Rehab. During this meeting, we will talk to you about your treatment plan and provide any information that you need.  If you wish, your family and friends are encouraged to participate in this conference.

We will also provide regular progress reports on your assessment and treatment plan. If you wish, your family and friends are encouraged to join these meetings whenever possible.