Nothing is more essential than being able to communicate your needs in the midst of a crisis.

At present, many people across the world are being hospitalized for COVID-19 coronavirus. In some areas, hospitals are not allowing visitors to stay with people who are admitted, due to an abundance of caution over spread of the virus.

If you or someone you support were to need to communicate wants and needs without familiar supports in place, now is the time to create a backup communication plan.

We’ve pulled together multiple resources for you to check out and consider.

As you continue to refine your safety plan during this heightened period, please consider including a communication document of some sort. Fill it out, keep it somewhere safe, and if you need to seek medical attention, make sure it’s updated and with you.

 

The Hospital Communication Book
by The Clear Communication People Ltd

“Helping to make sure people who have difficulties understanding and/or communicating get an equal service in hospital”

Subsections Include:

  • Communicating with speech
  • Supporting people with visual impairments
  • Supporting people with a hearing loss
  • Using signing
  • Examples of useful signs
  • Using pictures and photos for communication (Drinks, Food, Alphabet, Personal Things, Personal Care, Symptoms, Degree of Pain, Procedures, Body Parts, Full Body, Nil By Mouth, Places, When Do I Go Home?)

 

Download The Hospital Communication Book here

My Hospital Passport
by The Clear Communication People Ltd


“If I go to the hospital this book needs to go with me. This is essential reading for all hospital staff working with me. It gives important information about me. This book should be kept at the end of my bed, with my notes, and used when you talk to me.”

Download My Hospital Passport

Health Passport
by The Health and Disability Commissioner, Auckland

This comprehensive passport is designed to take to the hospital with you. It covers personal details about the person, including disability diagnosis and other health conditions. It includes preferred communication approach and an opportunity to explain in detail how a person communicates, including decision-making support, information about how to provide care, what makes the person feel safe and comfortable, mobility standards, activities of daily living, and more. There’s an emergency contact and family contact section as well as other useful information related to a person’s interests.

 

Download Version Without Pictures

Download Version With Pictures

    Communication Passport for Accident or Injury
    by Glocestershire NHS Foundation Trust

    This visually-based document can be used to share everything from communication preferences to health support needs. You can add information about someone’s health risks and concerns, medications, and how to figure out whether or not a person is in pain. It’s a short document, but offers a lot of information in just four printed pages.

    Download Communication Passport Here

    HSE Health Passport

    This short document is a great way to let healthcare staff know all about a person’s needs or abilities. Using large text boxes and images, users can enter in key information to make sure healthcare representatives know how to support them best. The passport was released with a pretty cool short film called Mission Possible.

    Note: This is an Irish publication, so there will be variation on sign language pictured as a result.

    Download HSE Health Passport here

    And check out the Mission Possible film below!

      We can make a difference by making plans!

      Do you know of other great resources? Please share them with us by emailing larry@independencenw.org.

      Huge thanks to Corinne Thomas-Kersting for her collaboration efforts on this post. And thanks to everyone out there for sharing these essential resources with our community during this extraordinarily difficult time.