As your elderly parent ages, there will be changes to their abilities and well-being, which may necessitate more visits to the doctor. Taking on an active caregiver role means being aware of what your parents are experiencing, accompanying them to medical appointments, and helping to meet their needs. The best care plan in the world can only come to fruition with a good partnership between doctor, patient, and caregiver. Although attending medical visits can help you better understand your parent’s state of health, a good partnership would require you to communicate with the care team. Here are some ways for effective communication with your parent’s care team.
Obtain Your Parent’s Permission for Your Involvement
As this is all about your parent’s health and well-being, it is essential for them to agree on your role as caregiver. Assure them that they are still in charge of deciding what is important to them and how they want to achieve their goals. Your responsibility as a caregiver is to support them, not replace them. It is also wise for your parents to complete a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) waiver form. This will give you access to their health records and information. Alternatively, you can request a designation as the person with the medical power of attorney. This will allow you to consult their doctors and make healthcare decisions on their behalf should they become incapable of doing so.
Get Acquainted with Your Parent’s Care Team
Since different doctors specialize in other areas, your parents may be seeing different specialist doctors each time. Know the people on your parent’s care team, from the specialists to the nurses, therapists, and pharmacists. Although the doctors update one another, it is crucial to confirm changes to your parent’s care plan with each doctor, pharmacist, and therapist. It is also essential to keep other caregivers updated, especially if your parent lives in senior assisted living. The team members of the retirement community would personalize their care plan, such as customizing meals or fitness activities to work in tandem with those changes. Knowing who is on the team will allow you to bring issues to relevant parties. For example, if you notice signs of common infections, such as influenza, you would bring it up to the doctor, which can help you arrange a flu vaccination.
Maintain Your Parent’s Trust
Even though this is frequently not the case, many patients assume that their child or doctor wants to place them in a nursing home when they arrive at an appointment. Suppose your parents are worried about losing their autonomy. In that case, you must assure them that everyone on this team has their best interests in mind and works for them. They must be aware that accepting assistance will help them lead a fuller life. Whether it be having someone drive them to the store, make appointments, or do household chores. Encourage your parents to see that they are the CEO of their lives, and by delegating these tasks to others, they can spend more time doing important things. This allows them to enjoy a more fulfilling retirement.
