What Can You Do to Make Doctor’s Visits Run More Smoothly?

If both you and your senior dread going to her doctor’s office, you may need to try a different approach. Try some of these suggestions and see if they help you both to feel more comfortable.

 

Caregiver in Deerfield IL: Make Doctor’s Visits Smoother

Caregiver in Deerfield IL: Make Doctor’s Visits Smoother

 

Take the Time to Put Together a List of Questions

If you and your senior have some concerns that need to be addressed, make sure that you keep track of those questions. Keeping a running list in a notebook is a great idea, and before the appointment, you can streamline and consolidate those questions to make sure you’re not missing anything. Between visits, you can add questions to your list.

 

Decide How You’ll Best Be Able to Track Answers

Once you have your list of questions, you need to decide how you’ll be best able to keep track of answers and other information. Keeping a notebook and pen on you is probably the easiest way to do this, and there’s no technology involved. Another option, if your senior’s doctor is okay with the idea, is to use your smartphone or a voice recorder to record the conversation. That allows you to hear exactly what was said as often as you need to.

 

Keep an Updated List of Medications Ready

Your senior’s doctor has a list of medications that she takes, of course, but it’s a good idea for you to have one as well. This is especially important if your senior sees several doctors. If you make sure to include all of the medications on the list, that’s a comprehensive list that all of her doctors can see at her appointments. Something else to consider is that herbal supplements and vitamins can interact with medications, too. Adding these to the medication list ensures you don’t forget about anything.

 

Consider Bringing Someone with You

Depending on your senior’s health and her needs, you might feel overwhelmed at the thought of managing the information aspect of the appointment as well as managing her needs. One way to deal with this can be to bring someone with you. If you decide to bring home care providers with you, they can handle just about anything that she might need while you handle the rest of the experience.

As difficult as these trips to the doctor can sometimes feel, having a plan can be enough to help you to feel a little more comfortable. When you’re feeling calmer, it’s a lot easier to focus on what you need to focus on most, which is your senior’s health.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Deerfield, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.

LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services