SWAAD - FCSP Communicating

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Communicating

...with Health Care Professionals.

Taking care of an elderly or disabled family member usually includes making sure that a wide range of health care needs are met. There will be more visits to the doctor, dentist, pharmacy, and specialists, and there will be many instructions that need to be followed.

Medical appointments

Sometimes elderly and disabled people misunderstand or forget the instructions that are given by health care providers. The caregiver may either arrange to go to the appointment with the patient, or get permission to talk with the health care provider about the patient’s condition and health care instructions.

Give accurate information to the health care provider about your observations of the patient’s condition.
Ask questions if you are unclear or concerned about something.
Write down information from the health care provider so you can refer to it later and share it with the patient.
Consider getting a second opinion about recommended treatment.

Medications

Keep a list of all of the medications and dosages of each that your loved one is taking, including prescriptions and over-the-counter medications and vitamins.
Keep the list current, and be sure it goes along with the patient when visiting the doctor. Or put all of the containers in a bag and take them to medical appointments. It can also be helpful to have a copy of the list in his or her purse or wallet, so if there’s an emergency away from home, medical staff will know what medications are being used.
Keep a list of medications that cause the patient to have allergic reactions.
When possible use the same pharmacy for all medications.

Record keeping

Make a file with the names of all of your relative's health care providers, including specialists, hearing aid technicians and medical equipment companies. Add your notes from medical appointments so you’ll know where to look if there’s a question about what the doctor said about a particular treatment.
Encourage your loved one to communicate her or his wishes for future health care should he or she become incapacitated. Health care power of attorneys and living wills are referred to as "advance directives". Forms are available from hospitals and some doctor's offices. To get forms, you may call the Southwest Washington Medical Center at 360-514-2286, or your local hospital.
A health care power of attorney authorizes you to make health care decisions for your family member if he or she becomes incapacitated. It is not a general power of attorney, which would authorize you to make all decisions, medical and financial.
A living will directs the doctor to withhold life-sustaining treatment if the patient is terminally ill and unable to state what medical treatment s/he wants.

Please call the Senior Information & Assistance office closest to you for more information.