Your senior loved one needs to go to their doctor regularly because they need to manage their health even in their golden years. However, as they get older, certain things can start happening that may be embarrassing to talk about. If your senior refuses to tell their doctor specific things, there may be some tips you or their home care provider can give them to help them communicate better with their primary care doctor.
Understand Why Transparency Is Crucial
A doctor is only as good as the patient allows them to be. This is why having an open and honest talk about what’s going on at home with a senior’s health is so important. Sometimes it can be hard for a senior to communicate because they don’t remember or notice certain things. If this sounds like your loved one, ask home care to tag along with a senior to their doctor’s appointments to give the doctor more detail on daily life. This can also help a senior be more honest and comfortable with certain topics.
However, they should understand the stakes when they withhold information, and you’ve got to explain that transparency will be key to ensure they age in place for longer. Home care, doctors, and seniors must work together to ensure your loved one is as healthy as possible.
Reassure Them That No One Will Judge
Sometimes it feels like if you are open and honest about certain situations, it comes with judgment from the other person. However, every professional is trained never to judge. A good doctor will listen to your loved one without judgment. Instead, they will listen, diagnose, and develop a care plan with a senior home care provider. If your senior loved one feels like their doctor is judging them, they may want to find a new primary care doctor, especially one specializing in geriatric care.
Think About Things Ahead of Time
If your senior has a lot of issues to discuss, they should write down what they want to talk about. Then, they can sit down with home care and go over topics a senior should be discussing. Preparing ahead of time and writing down the most important things to talk about can help them skip the feelings of embarrassment, get to the point, and find solutions to every problem. In addition, it is one of the best ways to ensure each doctor’s appointment goes well.
Learn To Be Direct
If a senior skirts around the topic, it can be so hard for a doctor to know about the real problems going on. So, tell your seniors they need to be direct during the appointment. This will help a doctor know and understand exactly what is happening rather than trying to guess and medicate a senior. Being direct can seem embarrassing, but it will help the doctor find a solution and save a senior from future embarrassment.
Try Virtual Appointments
A senior may not want to discuss something in person, but this doesn’t mean they should skip appointments altogether. If you want your loved one to mention something and they don’t want to talk to the doctor in person, a virtual appointment may be a happy medium. When a senior is in the comfort of their own home, they may find it less embarrassing and feel comfortable enough, to be honest and direct.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care in Verona, WI please contact the caring staff at Agape Senior Services Madison today. (608) 841-1004
