If you are the primary family nursing assistant to your elderly loved one, then accompanying them during the doctor’s appointment might prove helpful. It can give you a better understanding of the current health condition of your loved one, what they need, and how you can help. Talking to your parent’s doctor can seem like a difficult task at first, but being a part of this conversation has its own set of benefits.

If you want an idea about how to go about making a better communication with your parent’s doctor here are few tips that you can use to ensure doctors are well-informed about the issues faced by the ageing loved ones. The strategies that can be used by you include:

Be upfront about your role as a nursing assistant

Inform your parent that you’d like to attend doctor appointments with them, and let them know why. If you’re helping to take care for your parent, having information on their health and medications can be crucial. Be up front about your role as a caregiver and tell them that you are there just to support them, not to take over their life.

Prior to the appointment, you and your parent should discuss the questions or concerns you want to take up with the doctor. You may also want to collect input from other family members or in-home caregivers, if applicable.

Keep Notes

Consider keeping notes about the things that might have happened with your parent and might have concerned you. These notes should indicate dates and times of new or worsening behaviors or health issues and must be shared with the doctor during the visit.

Bring a Medication List

Make a complete list of every prescription, over-the-counter medication, herbal supplement and vitamin your loved one takes, including dosages. This will help the doctor spot drug interactions and troubleshoot adverse side effects and prevent overmedication.

Are you considering round-the-clock home care for yourself or a loved one? Health2Home offers both with the 24/7 Nursing assistant Services to provide companionship and support. Our 24/7 Nursing assistant Services have been tailored for patients of all ages, returning home after hospitalisation, or recovering from accidents and injuries and who need care, supervision or assistance support.

As our loved ones grow older, they require a little more help with their daily activities. They may need assistance with simple tasks like showering, eating or remembering to take their medication.

Old age also comes with risks to their safety like falling or slipping even when they are at home. You might not always be there, so we want to help put your mind at ease by making sure your loved ones are safely taken care of.