Preparing Your Parent for a Doctor’s Visit
Elder Care in Fairfax County VA
As a family caregiver you will be responsible for helping your aging parent handle a variety of needs. Part of this is ensuring that they make the most out of the doctor’s appointments that they
have to attend. A large percentage of the elderly adult population deals with one or more health conditions that require attention, support, and treatment regularly, which means that they often have to go to the doctor. Taking the time to prepare your parent for these visits can help them to go more smoothly and for your loved one to get the maximum benefit from the appointment.
Use these tips to help you prepare your aging parent for a doctor’s visit:
- Talk about why they need to go. You would not want to go to a doctor if you did not think that there was anything wrong with you, and neither does your elderly loved one. Particularly if they are dealing with cognitive limitations caused by Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, your parent might not be able to understand why they need to go to the doctor. Take the time to explain this to them so that they feel more at ease and more prepared for the visit.
- Write down any questions. Your parent might have many things that they want to talk to the doctor about, but when they actually get to the office, they do not remember what to ask. Give them the opportunity to tell you what they want to ask so that you can write them down. This will allow you to bring this information to the visit and guide your loved one if they forget what they wanted to ask.
- Help them feel comfortable. Your aging loved one is more likely to cooperate with the doctor and make the most out of their visit if they feel comfortable. Help prepare them by encouraging them to bathe, dress nicely, and style their hair in the way that they like the most. This will keep them feeling good about themselves so that they are able to relax and go along with the steps of the visit.
Starting elder care can be one of the best decisions that you can make for your aging loved one to help them live a lifestyle that is active, engaged, and fulfilling while also keeping them safe, secure, and healthy. An elderly home care services provider can be with your parent on a customized schedule that takes into account not only their care needs but also the care efforts that you give to them, ensuring that they always have the support, care, assistance, and companionship that they need whether you are able to be with them or not. When it comes to helping your parent prepare for and get the most of a doctor’s visit, this care provider can guide your parent through the information related to their appointment, attend the appointment with them to help them manage the steps of the visit, and then relay the information that they learned to you so that together you can ensure that any necessary care modifications are made to ensure that your parent continues enjoying the highest quality of life possible.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a professional elder care in Fairfax County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 369-6677. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities
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