How to Prepare for a Senior Loved One’s Doctor Appointment

April 3, 2023

Regular visits to the doctor could boost your aging loved one's health and lower the risk of various age-related conditions. For a better outcome, you should create a checklist and include essential information. Below, you’ll find tips to help you prepare for your loved one's doctor appointment.

Have Transportation in Place

Many adults skip doctor appointments because of transportation problems. Your loved one may no longer drive due to vision loss, memory problems, or mobility issues. Assign a sibling or another caregiver in your family to drive your parent to and from the doctor's office. If no one is available, consider using senior-friendly transportation services. Having transportation planned in advance could lower the odds of canceling the appointment. Edmonton respite care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and other appointments, there are a variety of ways professional respite caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to enjoy a high quality of life

Write Down Questions

Your loved one shouldn’t wait for his or her primary care physician to start a discussion about a specific health problem. Instead, your parent needs to bring up the issue to receive helpful feedback. Your loved one could be going to the doctor for one issue, but there may be other problems that need attention as well. For instance, if your loved one has been living with reduced vision, the doctor may focus solely on an eye exam to determine if your loved one needs to see a specialist. However, if your parent has also had chest pain or a sore throat, the doctor should be aware of these issues so he or she can run other tests. Write down all the questions you want your loved one to ask before the doctor visit.

Bring Necessary Documentation

If this is the first time your loved one is seeing a particular doctor, whether it’s a new primary care physician or a specialist, he or she should take medical documentation to the appointment. Documentation could include copies of your loved one’s most recent X-rays as well as reports from other medical providers. This information can help the doctor gain a clearer perspective so he or she can provide treatment that best suits your parent’s needs. A respite caregiver can help you maintain a detailed record of your loved one’s daily routine and note any issues the doctor should know about. When their aging loved ones need respite care, Edmonton, Alberta, families know it’s important for them to have caregivers they can trust and rely on. At Butterfly Dreams Respite Care, our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.

Go to the Appointment Together

Seniors may forget to share their doctors’ recommendations with their caregivers, which could disrupt their treatment. Your loved one may assume an issue isn’t as dangerous as it is and decide not to share the details. Be present at your loved one's doctor visits. If you need to take time off from work, make sure to schedule the appointment well in advance so you can go. Being present during the visit allows you to receive essential information that can help you augment your loved one's care plan.

List Medications

Your parent should be thorough when listing medications he or she has taken or is currently using. Even if your loved one has only taken a pill once, the doctor will need to know. Failing to disclose all prescriptions, over-the-counter treatments, and supplements could put your loved one's health in jeopardy. To be safe, your loved one should make a list of everything he or she is taking before visiting the doctor. Professional respite caregivers can help seniors keep track of their medications, provide transportation to medical appointments, and assist with several other important tasks. The exceptional team at our Edmonton care home can benefit your senior loved one in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Butterfly Dreams Respite Care are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To learn more about our reliable, compassionate respite care services, contact us at 587-800-4822 today.