When life happens, and there is an incident resulting in hospitalization and/or rehabilitation, we can see a dramatic decline both physically and cognitively.
Helping elderly parents arrange and manage their medical care, especially if we do not reside in the same region as our parents, can often feel overwhelming. We know that they can struggle with remembering what the doctor has told them or keeping on top of how and when to take multiple medications. It is time to offer support, and knowing where to start can be daunting.
Have A Conversation
It’s best if these conversations happen before a medical crisis occurs. Ask your parent if they are comfortable with you, or an advocate for you can attend medical appointments to ensure they remember the pertinent details of the appointment and be a second ear for any instructions the doctor may have. Reassure your parent that we don’t want to take over but make the appointments easier for them.
Steps to Make Medical Appointments Easier
1. Make a list of the various practitioners and their phone numbers. Having a list makes booking appointments straightforward or makes it easier to complete any paperwork that asks about medical care.
2. Make a list of medications, the dosages, and ensure it is taken to the appointment. Elderly people often have multiple healthcare providers who take care of them. Providing a current list allows for an efficient use of the practitioner’s time. It also helps the doctor avoid prescribing a new medication that may adversely react to existing meds. Ensure you and your parent have a current list at all times.
3. Ensure that the parent has signed the necessary forms that will allow you, or an advocate, to attend the appointment with them. By law, medical professionals cannot discuss their patient’s care without permission
4. Arrange for access to your loved one’s Interior Heath Authority Health Portal and My Care Compass (LifeLabs). Your parent will need to grant their permission for this access. Access to these portals will allow you to see laboratory results, view after-visit summaries and have access to upcoming appointment dates
5. Help make a list of questions or concerns before the visit. Ask how your parent feels and whether any old or new issues have arisen. Make a list of their symptoms to keep them on track for the appointment
6. Attend doctor’s appointments if possible. Doctors generally welcome family members or advocates because it can lead to more effective care.
We recently received a phone call from a child whose parent resides in Kelowna. The parent has no family in Kelowna, and we have been taking them to the occasional medical appointment. The child was so grateful for our services (getting their parent to/from appointments safely) but did not realize that upon request, we can sit in on appointments to take notes, advocate and report back to the family. They expressed their relief and gratitude for this service.
Although the above “prework” may seem overwhelming, in the end, it will lead to better healthcare for our loved ones. A simple 10-15 minute follow-up call/email/Zoom assures you that the issues have been addressed, follow-up appointments have been made, medications have been issued and/or modified, and that DNA’s Helping Hands can be your eyes and ears when you cannot.