OHC Home Visit: a few sample questions to explore
(Use this resource to inspire your own questions, which may vary from this list.)
Receiving news:
How did you learn of your (son/daughter)’s diagnosis?
What help or advice did you receive at the time?
How did your physician/care provider respond to your thoughts and feelings at the time?
Can you tell me something about your family’s response to the news?
How did your medical team help you learn about what to prepare for?
How has your experience affected your health care decisions?
Ongoing support:
Who has helped you understand important issues?
How has your health care practitioner addressed the needs of others in your family?
Who do you turn to most often for help or advice regarding the needs of your (son/daughter)?
Who in the family is the primary care giver? (Are siblings, or others, expected to give care in any way?)
What supports in your community do you rely on the most?
If I were a new family, a family similar to yours, moving into this area, what would be your favorite suggestions for support and resources?
Relationships:
What helps you establish a good working relationship with your health practitioner?
What are your priorities in care relationships for your child?
What helps a visit to the doctor/care provider go smoothly?
Do you have a favorite helping professional, and why? (can be more than one)
How has your experience affected your marriage? Other adult relationships?
Can you tell me about how members of your family get along with each other (siblings)?
Community and activities:
What are your (son/daughter)’s educational supports? (for older children: you can explore preparation for work or adult life)
What does your family do for fun?
What does your (son/daughter) enjoy doing most?
Can you tell me about (special therapies, hobbies, sports, favorite exercise)?
General:
Are there positive or negative experiences that stand out that you want to teach me about?
How has the experience of your family changed you?
What is a good day in your household?
What makes a day difficult in your household?
Do you have visions for your child’s/family’s future that you can share?
Note to students:
These questions are framed as questions to parents but be creative about learning from the children too. Ask your host family to teach you how to listen and communicate if you feel you need help, most especially if communication is challenging, or their loved one is nonverbal. There won’t be time for all questions, so reading about other peers’ visits in the class forum will be useful to you.
Finally: these are only questions to inspire your own. Thinking about them beforehand will help you have a better learning experience, as will going over the Operation House Call learning objectives, and reviewing the articles and videos on the Operation House Call website. On your home visit playing and talking with everyone in the family is encouraged.