Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Caregiver? Learn how to support older relatives at doctor’s appointments.

Miles J. Varn, MD
Physician
November 8, 2022
11 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

As a caregiver or support person for an older parent, partner, or relative, you may be involved in helping that person with medical appointments, perhaps even helping them manage care from several different health care providers. There are a number of strategies that can help you be an effective, respectful advocate for your loved one. These strategies also help ensure that your family member gets the care she or he needs, which in turn can lower the risk of misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment. You’ll also be better equipped to make sure that his or her wishes surrounding medical care are respected by both providers and family members.

Start by having a conversation with the person you provide care for. This is a chance to uncover how they feel about having you play a role in their care. Some people will welcome your support. Others may resist receiving help. Some reasons why they may be uncomfortable looping you into their care include wanting to preserve their independence and guard their privacy.

For family members who are resistant to your offer of support, outline the ways having you included in doctor’s appointments can be helpful. For example, you can help them prepare for appointments, take notes during appointments, make follow-up appointments and get prescriptions filled, and help with insurance claims.

How to be an advocate at the doctor’s office

If your loved one is open to you providing support, these strategies can help you be an effective advocate at the doctor’s office:

Complete the forms you need to act as an advocate. Have your family member complete HIPAA release forms for all doctors they see. To protect their privacy, they can limit the types of information that providers can share with you. If they have dementia or are frail and at risk of being hospitalized, discuss choosing a health care power of attorney who can make medical decisions on their behalf if they are unable to.

Build a provider contact list. One important part of helping your family member is coordinating care. Gather the names and contact information for all the providers they see. If the providers have a patient portal where you can make appointments, request prescription refills, ask questions, and request referrals, create an account to help you streamline access to care and information.

Get acquainted with their medical history. Ask your family member what conditions they’re receiving treatment for, what prescription and over-the-counter medications they take, and about their past medical history. If they don’t have the details you need, once the HIPAA release forms have been submitted, you can request their records from their providers or access them through the patient portal.

Alert the provider that you’ll be attending the appointment. Find out if you can be in the exam room during the appointment. Share your health care power of attorney forms with the provider if you’ve taken on that role.

Prepare before the appointment. Talk with your family member and make a list of questions and concerns to share with the provider. Ask what they want to get out of the appointment. Do they have new symptoms they’re concerned about? Are they dealing with medication side effects? It’s also helpful to bring all their medications and supplements or a list of medications that includes who prescribed the medications and what the dosages are. If your family member takes a lot of medications, consider asking for a medication review to determine if they’re all still needed or if there’s a risk of interactions.

Keep the focus on your family member. Have your loved one lead the discussion with the provider if their health and cognitive well-being allow. You can offer supplemental information, share your perspective, and add any information your family member forgets to mention.

Take notes. It’s difficult for most people to recall what was said during a doctor’s appointment, and it can be even more so for older family members, especially if they have issues with memory or hearing. Track the answers to any questions asked during the appointment. Note test results, new or discontinued medications, and any needed follow-up appointments, tests, or referrals to specialists. If the doctor prescribes a new medication, ask what it’s for, how long it should be taken, what side effects you should look for, and if it could interact with other medications. If there’s a new or updated diagnosis, ask for information about the diagnosis and what the next steps are. And if there’s anything you or your loved one don’t understand, ask for clarification.

Miles J. Varn is chief executive officer, PinnacleCare, and can be reached on LinkedIn.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A doctor's journey through constraints and creativity in the ER [PODCAST]

November 7, 2022 Kevin 0
…
Next

3 pieces of advice to create a meaningful career

November 8, 2022 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A doctor's journey through constraints and creativity in the ER [PODCAST]
Next Post >
3 pieces of advice to create a meaningful career

More by Miles J. Varn, MD

  • Why sharing your complete medical history with your clinicians is important

    Miles J. Varn, MD
  • Managing key risk factors may lower your dementia risk

    Miles J. Varn, MD
  • Endometriosis is often misdiagnosed. How to get the right diagnosis.

    Miles J. Varn, MD

Related Posts

  • Health literacy: the missing piece to caregiver support and empowerment

    Deanna Lernihan, MPH and Sandra Vamos, EdD
  • Osler and the doctor-patient relationship

    Leonard Wang
  • Finding a new doctor is like dating

    R. Lynn Barnett
  • Emotional support animals for health care providers

    Brittany Ladson
  • Doctor, how are you, really?

    Deborah Courtney
  • Be a human first and a doctor second

    Sarah Murad

More in Physician

  • The Iranian diaspora’s fight for liberty: Overcoming challenges in the largest women’s rights movement of our century

    Montreh Tavakkoli, MD
  • The harmful effects of shaming patients for self-education

    Maryanna Barrett, MD
  • The power of self-appreciation: Why physicians need to start acknowledging their own contributions

    Wendy Schofer, MD
  • Skydiving and surgery: How one doctor translates high-stress training to saving lives

    Alexandra Kharazi, MD
  • Don’t be caught off guard: Read your malpractice policy today

    Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Laura Fortner, MD
  • The dark side of medicine: an urgent call to action against greed

    Don Gaede, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • Safe sex for seniors: Dispelling myths and embracing safe practices [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Safe sex for seniors: Dispelling myths and embracing safe practices [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Overcoming Parkinson’s: a journey of laughter and resilience

      Cynthia Poire Mathews, FNP | Conditions
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • Maximize sleep efficiency with stimulus control

      Pedram Navab, DO | Conditions
    • The Iranian diaspora’s fight for liberty: Overcoming challenges in the largest women’s rights movement of our century

      Montreh Tavakkoli, MD | Physician
    • Surviving clinical rounds: tips and tales from a pediatric hematologist-oncologist [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • How This Doctor Found Purpose After a Devastating Injury
  • House Lawmakers Squabble Over HHS Budget
  • Infant Formula Crisis Exposed FDA and Industry Failings, Lawmakers Say
  • Building Vaccine Trust Among the General Public
  • Is It Business as Usual for the Drug Industry?

Meeting Coverage

  • Phase III Trials 'Hit a Home Run' in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Cannabis Use Common in Post-Surgery Patients on Opioid Tapering
  • Less Abuse With Extended-Release Oxycodone, Poison Center Data Suggest
  • Novel Strategies Show Winning Potential in Ovarian Cancer
  • Children Do Well With Fewer Opiates After Surgery
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • Safe sex for seniors: Dispelling myths and embracing safe practices [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Safe sex for seniors: Dispelling myths and embracing safe practices [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Overcoming Parkinson’s: a journey of laughter and resilience

      Cynthia Poire Mathews, FNP | Conditions
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • Maximize sleep efficiency with stimulus control

      Pedram Navab, DO | Conditions
    • The Iranian diaspora’s fight for liberty: Overcoming challenges in the largest women’s rights movement of our century

      Montreh Tavakkoli, MD | Physician
    • Surviving clinical rounds: tips and tales from a pediatric hematologist-oncologist [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...