Visits to the doctor can be intimidating for you as a family caregiver, but it helps to make the most of them. Staying calm and sticking to the plan can be a good course of action, but you might have other concerns, too.Bring a List of All Your Questions
You might think that you'll remember exactly what you need to ask, especially if you're running into specific issues every day. But then you get to the appointment with your elderly family member's doctor and you can't think of even half of what you needed to ask. Start keeping a running list of everything that pops up in between doctor's visits. The night before the appointment, review your list and make sure you jot down the most relevant questions to bring with you. You might even start to realize that you can notice patterns in your question list that can be clues to other problems.
Ask about Available Resources
Your aging adult's doctor has experience helping with so many of the issues that face you and your elderly family member. Ask for help finding resources that can help you both. They may even have a list right there in the office that they can hand to you.
Take Notes as Much as You Can
It's easy to think that you'll remember everything that you and your aging family member's doctor discussed during the visit, but that fades. Bring a notebook with you and take notes, if possible. If taking notes feels intrusive to you, try writing a summary of what you remember as soon after the appointment as you can. Having those notes to refer to can give you a wealth of information you might have otherwise missed.
Do a Medication Review
While you're there, ask for a medication review. This can help you and your aging adult's doctor spot medications that combine to produce pronounced side effects. Some medications may need adjusting or even changing in order to improve your elderly family member's quality of life.
Try not to be worried about visits to the doctor with your aging family member. Being nervous can make you forget what you're there to do.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE ARE CONSIDERING HIRING IN-HOME CAREGIVERS IN NEW EAST SIDE, IL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT BRIGHTSTAR CARE CHICAGO. CALL TODAY: 312.382.8888.