What Should You Do to Prepare for a Doctor’s Visit with Your Parent?

In your role as a family caregiver, something you are likely going to have to do several times a year, if not more often, is bring them to the doctor. Whether it is because they are dealing with a chronic health concern or they are showing symptoms of an illness or infection, going to the doctor promptly and making the most of these visits can ensure that your senior gets the care that they need to properly handle their situation. Preparing for these visits is an important step in helping them to make the most of a visit, and can also reduce their anxiety if they are feeling nervous about going to the doctor.

Some things that you can do to prepare for a doctor’s visit with your parent include:

• Talk to them about the visit and make sure that they understand why they are going.
• If they are dealing with cognitive functioning decline or other issues that might make it so that they do not recall similar visits to the doctor, talk to them about what they might expect during these visits. This can help give them a greater sense of control and ease anxiety.
• Make notes of what you have noticed that has made you concerned, such as the symptoms that they exhibit, when they exhibit them, and how they impact them. This can give the doctor valuable information that they can use to diagnose your parent or understand what might be happening.
• Write down any questions that you might want to ask the doctor so that you do not forget them. Consider establishing a health notebook to keep all of this information organized and leave space after each question so you can leave notes about what the doctor says.

Starting home care for your aging parent can make a tremendous difference in their health, well-being, and quality of life as they age in place. An in-home senior care services provider can be there for your parent on a completely customized schedule to ensure that your parent gets all of the care that they need, but that you are also kept at the forefront of their care routine. This care provider will provide your parent with a highly personalized set of services tailored specifically to your loved one’s needs, challenges, and limitations, as well as their personality, preferences, and goals. Through this support, which can include reliable transportation, assistance with activities of daily living, and companionship, your parent can experience more independence, activity, and fulfillment while staying healthy and safe.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering in-home care in Middletown, CT, please contact the caring staff at Franciscan Ever There Care. Call today 203-630-2881.