PATHFINDER: A Guide for Family Caregiving Pima Council on Aging
helping older relatives or friends to become active participants in their own health care
In your caregiver role it is important to support and encourage your relative to effectively communicate with treating physicians and other health professionals. Always respect how much your relative is willing to share with you about their health condition.
Older persons are less likely to ask questions and more likely to “follow doctor’s orders” even if they don’t totally understand the purpose of treatments or tests recommended or the medications prescribed. Many times older patients prefer to rely on the doctor’s expertise than to be involved in the decision making process. Another barrier is that communication takes time and insurance companies rarely pay for as much time with the doctor as older patients may want and need. Also, when a caregiver accompanies the older person to a medical visit the doctor or doctor’s staff may be inclined to speak solely to the caregiver and not the older person. This may make the older person feel invisible and powerless over decisions about their own health care. Moreover, attitudes about “aging” may also prevent successful communication between health practitioners and older persons. Physical problems affect persons of any age, and, after all, an “aged” person is only someone who has lived longer than a younger person. To really have good communication, your relative and the health professional should believe that ill health is not something to expect as part of growing older.
Speak to your relative about viewing the relationship with the physician as a “partnership” where both partners must share information to achieve the best possible care. Being a good partner means to: take good care of yourself; practice medical self-care at home; at the first sign of a health problem write down the symptoms; play an active role in the medical visit by asking questions and stating your preferences for care and taking responsibility for your own health. This includes asking questions if the doctor’s explanations or instructions are unclear, bringing up problems even if the doctor doesn’t ask and letting the doctor know if a treatment isn’t working. You can help your relative make a list of questions and concerns. Many older persons bring a tape recorder to medical visits to make sure they can correctly recall what was said. Suggest that your relative ask the physician the following questions: What illness do I have? What are my treatment options (drugs or alternative approaches)? What should I expect to happen with or without treatment? Will my insurance cover the entire cost of the treatment? Is there written information about the illness, suggested treatments and medications? What is the best way to contact the physician (phone, e-mail, etc.)? If the doctor prescribes a medication suggest that your relative ask the following: What is the name of the medication? Is a generic form of the prescribed medication available? How often and how long should the drug be taken? What might happen if the medication is not taken as prescribed? What foods, other medications, or activities should be avoided while taking it? What are the possible side effects of taking the medication as prescribed (drowsiness, constipation, etc.)?
Before the visit, you may want to discuss with your relative the following tips about sharing
information:
How can my relative find out about a doctor’s educational background and training? Your relative may want to know about a physician’s training and experience including whether or not the doctor is Board Certified and in what field. Doctors who are Board Certified have had additional training specializing in a certain field/area of medicine. Board Certification is one way for your relative to tell about a doctor’s expertise, but it does not guarantee availability when needed nor does it measure ability to communicate effectively. For information about a physician’s credentials, education and training, disciplinary history and malpractice/criminal information contact:
• Arizona Medical Board, 9545 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
5539; Phone: (480) 551-2700; or toll free (877)255-2212; www.bomex.org
Click on: AZDOCInfo: Physician, Resident & PA Search
• Pima County Medical Society, 5199 E. Farness Dr., Tucson, AZ 85712; Phone: (520) 795-7985;
www.pimamedicalsociety.org For information about Board Certified Medical Specialists including a description of the medical specialty, the medical specialist’s credentials, education and training as well as access to a directory of certified specialists, contact:
• American Board of Medical Specialties, 1007 Church St., Suite 404, Evanston, IL 60201-5913; Phone: (847)491-9091; www.abms.org Click on: Which medical specialist is for you?
How can my relative evaluate whether or not the “partnership” with the doctor is working? Begin by asking your relative this question, “Can you and the doctor communicate with each other?” This is one of the most important aspects of any partnership. Other qualities that are vital in building a positive partnership are: Does the doctor care about your relative, listen carefully to their concerns and explain things clearly and fully? Does the doctor reassure your relative, when appropriate? Does the doctor or doctor’s staff return your relative’s telephone calls in a timely manner? Do your relative and the doctor work together as a team to plan for your relative’s current and future care? Good health is dependent upon good communication especially for obtaining information, services and the best care possible.
Prepared for Pima Council on Aging by the Arizona Center on Aging, the University of Arizona®
Communicating with Physicians and Other Health Professionals