COURIER LIFE, J PS ULY 19-25, 2019 25
Wellness
Seniors who bring companions along to appointments with their physicians can reduce the risk of
misunderstanding advice or diagnoses given by their doctors.
Visits to a physician are
just one step people
make in an effort to
improve their well-being.
It’s important that everyone
visit their physicians at least
once a year for a checkup, but
seniors may need to see their
physicians more frequently
than other age groups.
When visiting the doctor,
it is easy for anyone to miss
important components of
what the doctor is saying,
and it’s just as easy to
misunderstand certain
instructions or medication
information. Seniors who
bring companions along to
appointments with their
physicians can reduce the
risk of misunderstanding
advice or diagnoses given by
their doctors.
Data from U.S. News and
World Report states that
about one-third of seniors
still living on their own take a
companion with them to their
routine doctor’s offi ce visits.
Companions are typically
spouses, but they can include
children or other family
members as well.
Patients may fi nd there
are many advantages to
bringing someone along
to an appointment. And
companions may want to
learn more about patients’
goals at each appointment
prior to going along so they
can prepare and know how to
help during the appointment.
Listen
People tend to forget at
least half of what they hear
in the doctor’s offi ce, says
the Archives of Internal
Medicine. This tendency may
be increased when patients are
nervous about the potential
outcome of their visits.
Bringing a companion
along means that both
people are actively listening.
Together, the information
they’ve heard can combine to
provide a full account of the
visit.
Taking notes
Companions can jot down
important notes about the
appointment, such as dates
and times for follow-up visits,
medication advice, and any
other instructions that may
be forgotten once the patient
leaves the offi ce.
Companions can later
translate the jargon-heavy
language of a physician into an
understandable language the
patient can fully understand.
Medical history
Sometimes a companion
can be a useful resource,
calling a doctor’s attention to a
patient’s prior hospitalizations
and illnesses. Companions
can even call attention to any
medications the patient is
currently taking.
Serving as an
advocate
Very often a companion
can operate as a patient
advocate, clarifying questions
or getting further information
out of a doctor if the patient
is hesitant to ask. If the
information isn’t clear, the
companion can raise red fl ags
or ask to have the instructions
put in a different light.
Translation
Sometimes patients need
companions who speak their
native languages when their
physicians do not.
People are learning that
bringing a family member
or friend along to doctors’
appointments can be a smart
way to make the most of doctor
and patient interactions.
Caring for an elderly
friend or family member
is not easy. It may only
get more diffi cult when a
caregiver lives far away.
Long-distance caregiving
may not be ideal for the
patient or the caregiver, but
it’s sometimes the only option.
Long-distance caregivers can
expect their out-of-pocket
expenses to be higher, as the
cost of travel alone is likely
to be considerable. Longdistance
caregiving may not
be ideal, but here are some tips
to help those entrusted with
caring for an elderly friend or
family member from afar.
Make sure your loved
one’s home is safe. When
you get the chance to visit
your loved one’s home, make
the most of that visit and
ensure his home is safe. If
he has trouble doing things
around the house, address
any of these issues before
you return home. It can help
to install some grab bars in
the bathroom or purchase a
shower seat to reduce the risk
of falling in the shower. In
addition, make sure handrails
inside and outside the home
are secure. If they’re loose,
tighten them so they provide
adequate support.
Clean up around the
house. Your loved one may
not be ablel keep up with his
chores around the house. A
dirty home can be depressing,
so clean up around the house
to brighten the home and
reduce the risk of an insect or
rodent infestation.
Be ready for a crisis.
No one wants to imagine a
situation in which her loved
one has an emergency, but
caregivers need to do just
that. Have someone you can
count on nearby to check on
your friend or family member
if you suddenly cannot reach
him. Introduce yourself to
your loved one’s next-door
neighbor or meet a close friend
who lives nearby that you can
contact should your friend or
family member prove diffi cult
to reach.
Make a list of
medications and update
it regularly. Seniors often
take certain medications,
and caregivers should make
a list of these medications,
periodically updating the list
if anything changes.
Make sure your loved
one has a cellphone. Though
it might seem hard to believe,
some people, especially the
elderly, still do not have
cellular phones. When
serving as a long-distance
caregiver, it’s imperative that
you can easily and routinely
reach your friend or relative.
Age might make it hard for
him to get to a land line, so be
sure he has a cellphone that
he can carry with him at all
times. Program important
numbers, including your
own number, as well as his
physician’s, and a neighbor’s
or nearby relative’s number,
into the phone.
Stay in touch with his
physician. A physician
might not be able to share
all the details of your loved
one’s condition, you can keep
in touch with him to stay
abreast of how your loved one
is doing. A physician can help
you tailor your caregiving
to best manage the senior’s
needs, adjusting that plan as
need be.
Appointment companions
are a smart move
Tips for
long-distance
caregivers
Age might make it hard for your
loved one to get to a land line,
so be sure she has a cellphone
that she can carry with her at all
times.