Give and Take: What Seniors Should Tell Their Doctors
Family caregivers may not have time to accompany a senior loved one to the doctor. However, if the senior is willing, it could be vital that an older adult have someone there. That’s because there’s a lot of information that a senior’s doctor should know. A health professional must be told the medicines that older adult is taking, whether that senior has allergies, if that loved one is being treated by another doctor for an illness or is not taking the medications that have already been prescribed. If no one is available to go to the doctor with a senior, it will help to write down all that information for a parent.
The Home Instead Senior Care® network has worked with Humana Points of Caregiving® to develop a resource that also will help. An information management tool and the Senior Emergency KitSM website include a doctor visit worksheet and other valuable resources. Listed below are some questions to discuss with your senior’s doctor.
What is your main health concern right now?
Do you have any new symptoms, such as pain?
What changes have you noticed in your health since your last visit?
If you currently take medication for pain or any other symptom, how is it working?
Have you started any new medications? What are they? Do you have any side effects from the
medicines you take?
Have you seen other doctors before this visit? Have you had diagnostic tests or other treatments?
Do you want to discuss those results?
For fifteen years, the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network has been devoted to providing seniors with the highest quality care in their own homes, and to arming families with the information they need to make the best decisions about caring for aging loved ones. Family caregivers can visit www.SeniorEmergencyKit.com for more information and resources to help them track their seniors’ medications.
Until next time, if you, or any organization of which you are a part, is interested in learning more, please contact our office. We would be happy to speak to your group free of charge about this subject, our services, or even employment opportunities.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Champagne, Human Resource Coordinator
Home Instead Senior Care
1102 S Braddock Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Phone: (412) 731-0733
Rebecca.Champagne@HomeInstead.com
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