Your senior loved one’s doctor is one of your family’s greatest assets when it comes to maintaining your parent’s health. Doctor visits can often be short, and seniors may easily forget to address important issues during their appointments. Planning before the appointment gives your loved one the chance to make a list of concerns to cover. Keep reading for a few ways to help your loved one get more out of his or her next visit to the doctor.
Mention Issues with Medication
Doctors prescribe medication with the intent that it will help a person. In some cases, a new medication may generate side effects that make your loved one feel worse. These need to be mentioned so the doctor can consider switching to a different drug. Seniors should also let their doctors know if they have difficulty remembering to take their medication. The doctor may be able to help your loved one work out a medication routine that allows him or her to take medication at the same time to prevent missed doses.
In Huntsville, elder care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Talk about Changes in Their Diet
After the age of 65, many seniors start to notice changes in their digestive function. Your loved one may no longer be able to tolerate certain foods, or he or she may need to eat smaller meals. The doctor can help your loved one figure out if he or she needs to supplement his or her diet to get proper nutrition.
Ask About Memory Loss
Most seniors don’t want to mention memory loss because they fear receiving a dementia diagnosis. Fortunately, it’s better to confess this challenge, since early treatment means they may be able to slow the progression of the disease. Doctors won’t send seniors off to nursing homes or deem them incompetent. Instead, doctors can help aging adults figure out how to manage the activities of daily living while taking action to preserve their memory.
Living with a serious health condition can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Huntsville seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
Share Any Symptoms of Impaired Mobility
Seniors sometimes attribute joint pain or muscle stiffness to being older. Yet being unable to lift their legs to a certain point or reach over their heads can pose a serious risk for seniors’ safety and general comfort. Doctors can do many things today to help seniors stay mobile and avoid falls. From using a walker or cane to trying out new medications to reduce inflammation, there are many options for increasing a senior’s ability to get around.
Discuss Mental Health Issues
Symptoms such as prolonged periods of sadness or anxiety sometimes get pushed aside when there are physical health problems going on. Yet a senior’s mental health is also important, and it’s possible for depression and other conditions to interfere with the motivation to stay healthy. Seniors should mention any new issues that arise with their mental health, even if they seem minor. Doctors can prescribe medications and suggest strategies to help seniors boost their mental health.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of homecare. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call Home Care Assistance at (256) 716-9940 today.