VIable

NDHI
NAT IONAL DIALOGUE FOR
Healthcare Innovation
Novartis Caregiver Platform
Organization Overview
• Novartis is a global healthcare company that
provides solutions to address the evolving needs
of patients worldwide
• Novartis’ vision is to be a trusted leader in changing
the practice of medicine
Background
In the United States, there are 50 million family caregivers
that provide unpaid and often untrained assistance
to a loved one with a chronic illness. The number of
caregivers is expected to continue growing, based on
the expansion of the aging population. However, 36%
of caregivers have not found internet research helpful
in improving their ability to provide care. Healthcare
providers increasingly realize that caregivers are a
crucial piece of the puzzle in treating disease, but they
often lack the resources that they need to provide the
best care.
After significant research with multiple types of caregivers
(internal and external) and category experts,
Novartis determined three key areas of need:
• Caregivers are often faced with the unknown – they
wish they had a better understanding of what to
expect along their caregiving journey
• Caregivers experience a wide range of emotions,
which are sometimes unexpected and surprising
– they wish they knew more about these emotions
and how to handle them
• Caregivers are unsure where to go for resources
or support – they wish there were a well-laid-out
plan for them
The goal of the Novartis Caregiver Platform is to help
these family caregivers know what to expect along
the way, prepare them for the challenges ahead, and
deliver relevant and timely resources to them.
Be on the lookout for...
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ADVICE
FROM THOSE
WHO KNOW
CARING FOR
THE CAREGIVER
Dealing With Frustration
Program Details
Tips & Tools
While it’s natural to feel frustrated when things take an
unexpected turn for the worse, it’s not healthy to get caught
up in the feeling for too long. Frustration limits your ability to
TIP 1: Build Your Care Team
make effective decisions on the spot, which is often needed
of Caregivers.
Call your loved one’s insurance company to learn about coverage
One of the best of ways home to cope health with care frustration services is (such by venting as aides to help with routine
constructively. We’ve hygiene). all done Keep the a record bad kind of of each venting— call for future reference.
criticizing or yelling at someone else, maybe even punching
the wall. But good See venting pages helps 112 and to reduce 113 CAREGIVER’S for your a call feelings log that of you can CHECKLIST
use.
frustration and stress (without collateral To summarize, damage) and these can key tips and resources will
actually make you feel better afterward. One helpful way to
Consider speaking with help your you employer along about on your your caregiving caregiving journey:
cope with frustration is journaling.
situation. Looping them in early on can reduce stress later in the
case of unforeseen emergencies Identify or a absences. core care team of health care
professionals (doctor, pharmacist, social
worker) and personal supporters (family,
“ We now know through scientific studies that
It’s a Family Affair
friends, neighbors). Keep their contact
when we put our thoughts into words information by handy.
Caregiving doesn’t only affect your life
Remember that this is a
journaling, and that stress of your is loved reduced one. It impacts and our the immune difficult time for everyone.
Request that your loved one complete
entire family. Siblings and relatives that Try to have compassion for
system is strengthened. Over time, a health the care practice proxy form and HIPAA
you may not be very close to suddenly
your family members, even if
of taking re-emerge 10-15 to help minutes create a out circle of of your release
care. day form. to you write don’t agree with them.
down what you’re thinking and feeling can be
Find out if your state has enacted the
And with help often comes conflict.
Ask specifically for what you
the grains Finances, of opinions sand that on care, ultimately CARE
and turn Act, into which
need the guarantees caregivers
from them directly without
pearl long-term of resilience planning during become difficult hot topics.
certain rights
times.” the
upon
use
hospital
of guilt
discharge.
or anger.
Emotions run high and old conflicts
resurface. But there are actions you
Contact disease-specific
And when all
foundations
else fails,
for
bring
can take to help make peace during
educational
the
materials.
in an objective professional,
caregiving journey, while giving you the
like a family counselor, to help
support you desperately need. Ask the doctor, solve nurse, conflicts. or pharmacist questions
you may have about medication routines,
side effects, and generic alternatives.
Novartis has created a comprehensive resource with
the aim to improve treatment management, patient
engagement, healthcare coordination, and oversight.
The Caregiver Platform consists of:
• The Caregiver’s Guidebook (available in printed
form, e-book, and interactive PDF)
• Companion mobile app
The Caregiver Platform was developed through:
• Insights and lessons learned from 200 Novartis
Caregivers through engagement with the CARES
Employee Resource Group
• Comprehensive market research with 30 family
caregivers across multiple disease states
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Realization
21
Confusion
An Initiative of the
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Novartis Caregiver Platform