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Careging 101: Effectively Communicating with the Doctor
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I facilitate a family caregiver support group for those caring for a loved one with dementia. One of the common struggles that families often have is in getting information to the doctor in a way that is not hurtful to the person with dementia. Sharing that Mom got lost three times last week and is beginning to wander is hard enough, without having to do it in front of her - when she has no recollection or willingness to acknowledge that the event even happened. I put together a Tip card for my Caregiver website that offers some suggestions on communicating with your family member's Doctor that I have shared below.
Physicians have a very limited view of their patient - which makes sense really - they see them for only a brief period of time. Most people with dementia can hold it together for a set period of time, when in public during the earlier stages of the illness. It is in everyone's best interest for the doctor to have a bigger picture of what is going on, but they need more than just anecdotal snippets from family members - they need a bit more detail to really do something with the information. Families often say that the doctor discounts their information - but perhaps it is because of how the information is presented.
There is a new website that is designed to help families with this problem Patients and Families site is a great way to avoid this problem. You can use the site to collect information from the family on what is really going on with Mom, consolidate it into a concise list for the physician and send it to them prior to the visit. This ensures that everyone who has witnessed events over time has a place to document it, and helps to put a bigger picture view in place for the physician, which should lead to a better treatment plan.
Communicating with the Doctor
* Find out if the doctor has a preferred communication method—email, phone, or fax
* Call the doctor's office in advance of the appointment and share your concerns
* Write down your concerns in a concise bullet-style list and fax or email the list to the office prior to the appointment
* Bring the list of your concerns with you so you don't forget to ask about each one
* Research the care recipient's diagnosis and medications so you can ask specific questions
* Keep a journal of day-to-day issues so you can give specific examples
* Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to accompany your care recipient to the doctor if you are unable to
* Hire a care provider to accompany your care recipient to the doctor
* Take notes during the appointment
* Just state the facts - not your opinion of the facts
© Copyright 2008 by Toghers
