Home Instead Senior Care Southwest Idaho Provides Tips for Seniors in Talking With their Doctor
Treasure Valley home care company provides helpful tips for seniors to open communication with their doctors and health care professionals.
- Boise City, ID (1888PressRelease) March 31, 2011 - The doctor-patient relationship has evolved over the years from the doctor leading the conversation and the patient following, to more of a partnership between doctor and patient planning together the best possible health plan and treatment.
Talking to the doctor, may be uncomfortable for some seniors as they prepare for their appointments. Home Instead Senior Care in Southwest Idaho has prepared some helpful tips for seniors to make the most out of those conversations. It isn't just doctor-patient relationships that can benefit from this approach but also communication with nurses, pharmacists, other health care providers.
Communication is with your health providers is the key. This means asking more questions if what the doctor says is not clear to you, or bringing up concerns you may have and taking an active role in your own health care.
"As we age, we typically have more health concerns, conditions and treatments to talk about and more doctors. This gives you further reason to know how to effectively communicate with them. Let's take a typical appointment: you need to have a plan," according to Elizabeth Britton, owner of Home Instead Senior Care Southwest Idaho.
Home Instead Senior Care Southwest Idaho offers these tips to prepare for your health care provider appointments.
1. Make a list of your concerns and prioritize them - do you have a new symptom? Concerned about a prescription? Are you wondering if you should get a flu shot? Don't be concerned of asking too many questions.
2. Take information with you - bring your list of prescription drugs, over the counter medicines (even eye drops and laxatives), vitamins, herbal supplements, medicated lotions/rubs…. Also have ready any names of other or new doctors you may be seeing, and medical or insurance cards, especially if there have been changes.
3. Make sure you can see and hear as well as possible - remember to take your glasses! And if you have a hearing aid, make sure it is working properly. If you are having troubles seeing or hearing the doctor or the staff, let them know.
4. Consider bringing a family member or caregiver - let this person know what you want from your visit. Prior to your appointment they can be a sounding board to help practice what you want to discuss. At the appointment they can remind you of important points. They can help take notes of any specific instructions. If going alone, be prepared to take notes or ask for the information or instructions in writing.
5. Plan to update the doctor - let your doctor know what has happened in your life since your last visit. If you've had an emergency room visit, suffered a loss, been under any new stresses. Mention any changes in appetite, sleep patterns, energy level or medications.
Practical Matters & Sensitive Subjects
• Bring up any concerns, even if they don't seem related to a medical condition.
• If the doctor can't help solve your non medical problems he may be able to refer you.
• Don't hesitate to discuss sensitive subjects.
• Use brochures or booklets as props to introduce topics you may feel awkward discussing.
When the doctor asks how you life is going? He's not making small talk or being nosy. Use this time to tell the doctor about your good and bad habits, your new or old activities, and new stress factors; the more he or she knows about you as a person, the better he or she can treat you. At your appointment, remember, good health care requires good communication. If you arrive prepared, you will have a more productive appointment.
About Home Instead Senior Care:
Care You Can Trust. Elizabeth Britton, CSA (owner), the office administrators, and CAREGiversSM all share a passion for improving the quality of life for seniors and families in the community. Here in Boise and surrounding areas, we offer a range of non-medical services that can be customized to your needs so you'll get exactly the help you need. CAREGivers are area residents who are kind, compassionate and truly enjoy working with seniors. They are professionals, extensively trained in elder care, and all are screened, insured and bonded.
For more information contact:
Elizabeth Britton, C.S.A.
elizabeth.britton ( @ ) homeinstead dot com
(208) 888-9962
Resources:
Website: Home Instead Senior Care: http://homeinstead.com/SWidaho
Blog: http://inhomecareidaho.com/
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