Home Care in Garden Oaks, TX –  Here is a Handy Checklist for your Senior Loved One’s Next Appointment

As a family member trying to provide some care for your elderly parent, few things are more frustrating than when he comes home from the doctor and he can’t remember or understand anything the doctor told him to do about his medical issue. It can leave you feeling stonewalled and helpless.

There are a couple of options open to you to avoid this happening next time. You could do the necessary paperwork to be able to speak with your dad’s doctor and get the diagnosis and treatment regimen straight from the source,  or you could go in person to the doctor when your dad goes so you can write down what is said and ask the appropriate questions.

Or, you could choose to hire an in-home care provider who would go with your dad to his doctor appointments. The caregiver could then write down everything so you can see it later. The great benefit of a hired caregiver is there are many other things they can also help your dad with including giving him reminders to take his medicine on schedule. Furthermore, he can get some assistance with bathing, dressing, fixing home cooked meals and companionship.

Specific questions to ask the doctor

1. About the diagnosis

• Are there any supplemental reading materials you can have to educate yourself on this condition?
• Can I get written instructions that I need to follow?

2. About the medications

• Show the doctor a list of medications you are already taking
• Ask about specific side effects
• Ask if there will be any negative interactions between different medications
• Ask what the new drugs are for if you are getting new prescriptions

3. About any required testing

• What is the test for?
• What are the risks, if any, of the medical test?
• How long does it take to get the results?
• Will I be informed of the results?
• Don’t assume that no news is good news

4. Surgery questions, if applicable

• What is the exact purpose of the surgery?
• Please explain what will be done in surgery and what’s expected as a result
• Ask to see pictures or have the doctor draw what the surgery will accomplish
• What are the consequences of not having the surgery?
• How long does recovery time usually take?
• Do you suggest I should possibly search for a second opinion?

Always remember to write down what the doctor says. Even though you are doing your best to follow along with everything that’s being said, it’s so easy to forget once you walk out of the room. Doctor visits are even more confusing to the older person. They may feel intimidated or even embarrassed, and because of that they often don’t hear or remember anything that was said.