Are You Nervous About Talking to Your Senior’s Doctor?

Caregivers in Boca Raton: Are you nervous about talking to your senior loved-one’s doctor? Don’t be! They need you to be their advocate.

Whether you haven’t spent a lot of time talking to doctors or you simply get nervous in a doctor’s office, it can be tough to talk openly with your aging adult’s doctor. As you develop a relationship with the doctor, this may become easier. Until then, however, you may need to focus on some of these tips to help you make the most of appointments.

Write Down Your Questions

Before the next appointment, make sure that you take the time to write down your questions and your concerns. It’s best if you can do this when you have some quiet time to yourself so that you can get everything out of your mind and onto paper. If necessary, schedule time with elderly care providers so that your senior is in good hands and you can concentrate.

Ask about Taking Notes

Sometimes you might feel as if you shouldn’t be doing anything during the appointment other than listening intently. Unfortunately, often at a doctor’s appointment you’re likely to be a little more nervous than usual and you might forget important details. Ask if it’s alright for you to take notes or, even better, record the meeting, so that you can listen to it later when you can focus.

Remember to Follow Up

If there’s anything that you need to follow up on, such as a change in medication or a referral to a specialist, make a note of when and how you need to follow up. It’s really easy to forget these kinds of details, especially when they’re not a normal part of your regular visits.

Remember that Your Concerns Are Valid

Many caregivers worry that they’re being overprotective or that they don’t really know enough about their senior’s health conditions to be able to raise concerns. The truth is that your concerns are definitely valid and as your senior’s caregiver, you’re in the very best position possible to notice smaller details about her health. When you speak up about what you’re noticing, you make it much easier for your elderly family member’s medical team to spot potential problems much earlier on.

Your senior’s doctor is there for her and any help that you can provide is beneficial. Speaking up helps everyone involved.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring a professional in-home caregiver in Boca Raton, please call the caring staff at Alongside Home Health.  Providing senior care in Palm Beach County and surrounding cities. Call for Assistance: (800) 712-4266

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Michelle Hankla, Patient Care Coordinator and Community Liaison

Patient Care Coordinator and Community Liaison at Alongside Home Health

Michelle has spent many years in a customer focused setting in a variety of community organizations. She has worked with seniors for many years particularly those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. As part of the Alongside team, she works closely with our client service team to ensure client satisfaction. She visits healthcare facilities, clients and their families to ensure that top notch care is being provided to their satisfaction. She is the interface between our caregivers, clients, and our organization that keeps everything operating smoothly. She has resided in Palm Beach county for many years and has two children.

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