Visits with Your Aging Parent's Physician
Your elderly parent may need more difficult medical appointments as they age since they will have more issues. Regretfully, individuals might only have 20 minutes or less to discuss these crucial issues with their doctor. To make matters worse, weeks of waiting for a follow-up appointment are expected.
The best action is to list things to discuss before your parents' doctor's appointment. After exiting the parking lot, you don't want to recall a fundamental question suddenly.
Call Visiting Angels of Alexandria at 703-333-5086, and they will happily schedule a free consultation.
Advice for Speaking With the Doctor of Your Aging Parents
Visiting Angels Alexandria, which has spent decades helping elders and their families, has heard from many customers that they want more proactive contact between doctors and patients. Many have reported dissatisfaction over unanswered issues or opportunities to ask essential inquiries during doctor appointments.
Here are some things to discuss at your loved one's next medical checkup to prevent this scenario.
Mental Health
The World Health Organization estimates that 14% of seniors suffer from mental health issues. Mental health disorders are prevalent among older persons. Discuss the warning signs and hazards for the following with your parent's doctor:
- Depression
- Stress and anxiety
- Less enthusiasm for the things that used to bring them joy
- Socialization, as well as seclusion
- Too little sleep or too much sleep
Visiting Angels' companion care may help if your loved one feels alone or isolated. Our caregivers can engage in pastimes they love, such as reading, playing puzzles, or conversing with them at home.
Mobility and Fall Prevention
It might be challenging to balance protection and freedom when your parents age. According to the CDC, more than 95% of hip fractures occur as a result of falls, and 1 in 4 seniors experience a fall in the United States each year.
Consult the physician about mobility exercises to support your loved one in preserving their range of motion and independence. These could consist of:
- Exercises for flexibility
- Strength exercises
- Physical intervention
- Exercises for balance
- Yoga with awareness
Visiting Angels Alexandria offers a fall prevention program for seniors to help reduce the possibility of trips, falls, and slips at home.
Symptoms
You may be their go-to person if your parent struggles to recall or communicate health symptoms. Inform the doctor about any difficulty you are experiencing on a physical, cognitive, or emotional level. Give pertinent information about the health problems, including when they started, how they've developed, and any triggers for worsening or improving symptoms. The doctor can more precisely examine and create a customized care plan with the support of clear communication.
Care Options
Ask the doctor for advice on the appropriate degree of help if your family is thinking about getting in-home care, such as:
- 24-hour care if your parent needs ongoing assistance or supervision
- To relieve the primary caregiver, provide respite care.
- Palliative treatment for chronic illness comfort
The appointment is likely to provide you with a wealth of information. To ensure your parent's home care plan is followed and monitored, take thorough notes on all directions and symptoms.
Independent Self-Care
Find out whether your parent can safely carry out everyday tasks independently from the doctor. Typical self-care activities are:
- Clothes
- Cleaning and grooming
- Food consumption, chewing, and swallowing
- Using the restroom
- Traveling on one's alone
Moving from one position to another: The doctor may advise making adjustments, including adding grab bars to the shower or using a walker or other ambulatory device, and requesting help from a home care agency, such as Visiting Angels Alexandria.
Visiting Angels Alexandria Is Here to Help!
To find out how Visiting Angels may help your elderly parent and loved ones, contact the Alexandria home care office. Set up a free consultation for home care right now.
