Dr. Eboni Green
June 13, 2021
When caring for an elder loved one it is vital to take an inventory of their unmet needs. In fact, the care you provide will likely not simply focus on wellness and the prevention of illness and disease, but also making sure your loved one has access to treatments needed for chronic conditions and new concerns. The following are five tips for helping an older loved one with accessing the care they need.
You might consider asking your loved one if you can accompany him or her to doctor’s appointments so you can be there to advocate on their behalf. Even if you are not taking direct control over decision-making when it comes to their health care, your loved one may need assistance when talking to the doctor to make sure they do not forget to ask questions about medications and treatments.
In some instances, you may need to make care decisions on behalf of your loved one. The level of involvement needed will largely depend on their decision-making ability and their consent for you to make decisions. If he or she prefers that you make healthcare decisions then, you will want to follow Aging Care suggestions, and have legal documentation in place to prior to making healthcare decisions for your loved one.
Whether it is appointments, medication, or otherwise, many elders, especially those with chronic health conditions, have schedules they must adhere to. It is easy for just about anyone to forget to take a certain pill at a certain time. The good news is there are plenty of medication tracking apps you can use to keep track of prescriptions. You might also keep a whiteboard or enlarged calendar in the home to track times and dates related to your loved one’s health care.
Your loved one’s primary physician might be able to help you facilitate treatment for most conditions, however you might also need to check in with specialists for routine visits and to make sure your loved one’s specialized care is being maintained. This can include getting in touch with the Center for Contemporary Dentistry to take care of oral health needs, as well as arranging routine ear and eye health checks.
In addition to working with your loved one’s doctors, you should also consider the need for complementary treatments and therapy. For example, massage therapy, can play a big role in improving your loved one’s quality of life. Other therapy like group exercises for elders can also help them remain connected to a community.
Your loved one will likely depend on you to facilitate at least some of their healthcare needs. As such, it is important that you are organized and have the proper documentation in place should you need to act quickly to support your loved one.
