Helping Your Aging Loved Ones Prepare for a Doctor’s Visit

In today’s fast-paced world, time is of the essence. This is especially true if your aging loved ones who are receiving top-of-the-line home care services in Bloomfield, New Jersey are going out for their appointment with their healthcare providers. It is crucial that they get the information and the quality of health care that they need from the appointment in order to ensure their health.

As an agency providing outstanding senior care in New Jersey, we have come up with a doctor’s appointment checklist to help your loved ones make the most out of their visit:

• If you are escorting them, both of you should not be late to any medical appointment.

  Know the specific time that you need to be at the appointment and how long it would take to get there. Allow for some extra time for weather, traffic, or other unforeseeable circumstances so as to avoid delays.

• Gather the items that you and your seniors need for the visit beforehand.

  The list of things that you need to bring with you for the appointment may range from the basic essentials for the waiting room to paperwork which you are supposed to fill out, or your loved ones’ medical records. Other items in between can include their health insurance cards, hearing aids, health tools, and any other information that their health care specialists may have asked you to bring, such as food journals or blood glucose journals for diabetic family members who may or may not be receiving quality nursing care in New Jersey.

• Take notes and comply with any instructions that your loved ones’ health care practitioners may have ordered.

  Studies have found that many senior individuals find it challenging to follow their doctor’s orders due to memory loss, costly medicines, and difficulty keeping track of their medications. Thus, it falls on you to make sure that they are following their doctor’s instructions to a T. Our caregivers at Serenity Senior Care can also help you in this matter.

Things to Bring When You Go to the Doctor With Your Aging Loved One

Things to Prepare Before Going to the Doctor With Your Aging Loved one’s

1. Make sure your elder loved one has their insurance card and identification on hand.
2. Figure out if your loved one wants to bring a list of questions with them or just have a conversation with the doctor.
3. Make sure you know how to get to the location of the doctor’s office, and that you can drive there too if needed.
4. Pack a lunch to take with you.
5. If you have a relative who is afraid of the doctor, or the kind that thinks the office is big scary place, get their picture taken together before they go in.
6. Give your elder loved one a bathing suit and pajamas to rest in if they are going to have a bath while at the doctor’s office.
7. Tell your loved one that you’ll be waiting for them on their return so you can discuss their visit and any issues that came up during it.
8. Make sure you have the directions, location, and phone number of the office in case you get lost or you need to call a family member to help out.
9. Pack a lunch in case your loved one takes longer than expected.
10. Offer your loved one extra ponchos, umbrellas, and rain boots if the weather is wet or rainy when they visit the doctor or if they need to go out afterwards.

What to Avoid Doing When You Bring Them to the Doctor

• Don’t ask your elderly loved ones to sit on the toilet if they are sitting down, and don’t stand behind them while they’re in the bathroom either.

• Don’t take your loved one’s temperature and don’t make them get up from the table for it either as it can be embarrassing for them.

• Don’t over pack your loved one’s bag with stuff for the doctor. There will be plenty of free things for them to have like toiletries and bottles of water.

• Don’t ask your loved one why they don’t want to go the doctor, as it could possibly lead to a heated argument if they do or don’t agree with you.

• Don’t make your elder loved one feel bad about themselves or their situation, talk about how much you appreciate them instead.

• Don’t make your loved one feel defensive, angry, or frustrated.

• Don’t give your loved one a wheelchair or walker if they don’t need it.

• Don’t lock them in the bathroom because they have to use the bathroom and you don’t want them getting distracted.

• Don’t ask your elder loved ones how old they think they are, what their life has been like, where they want to go after the doctor’s visit and why (or why not).

• Don’t ask them what they are going to do about their health issues, instead of just asking questions about what is causing them concern.

• Don’t say anything rude or mean to your elder loved one as it will come out later when you’re alone together and things aren’t so stressful.

• Don’t tell your loved one that they can do better or that they need to be stronger, this type of aggression will only cause them to become defensive and even more frustrated with themselves and their problems.