As a caregiver, you are at a greater risk for developing physical and emotional health problems. That’s because being a caregiver can be incredibly hard and overwhelming. Yet, not everyone’s experience with being a caregiver is the same. Therefore, the care you receive from your primary caregiver shouldn’t be based on statistics and research but on your own individual experience and needs. However, it’s not always easy to get doctors to listen to you and base your care on what’s really going on in your life. Below are some tips that can improve the caregiver’s experience with their doctor and help to build a better relationship with them.
Make the Doctor Your Partner
Most people become doctors because they genuinely want to help people. Use that quality to your advantage. Start a conversation with your doctor in which you acknowledge that they have a great deal of knowledge in their fear, but that you also like that they want to work with you to figure out the care that will be best for your individual needs. This tactic can work even if you don’t know for certain the doctor is willing to work with you because it lets them know where you are coming from and that you hope to partner with them.
Be Prepared for Appointments
Doctors appreciate patients who come to appointments prepared. Their days are busy, so your preparedness helps them to stay on task and move things along but also shows that you are invested in your care. Caregivers should come with a list of their questions as well as other information they may have been asked for, such as a complete list of the medications they take.
Be Honest
It can be hard for caregivers to talk about their health problems. They are used to being strong for the person they are caring for and setting their own issues aside. However, your doctor appointment is your time to focus on yourself. The doctor cannot help you if they do not know about your symptoms or concerns. Answer the doctor’s questions honestly.
Don’t Automatically Dismiss the Doctor’s Advice
While caregivers certainly should not feel obligated to follow advice they know won’t work for them, don’t be too quick to dismiss what the doctor has to say. If you continually reject the doctor’s suggestions, they are likely to just stop offering solutions. They may become unwilling to work toward finding an option that won’t work for you. Agree to try things and document the results. That way, if something doesn’t work for you, you can show the doctor that you tried and truly need another care path.
Sources
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/info-2019/health-care-professionals-understanding-needs.html
https://www.scripps.org/news_items/5394-7-ways-to-build-a-better-relationship-with-your-doctor
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/get-best-relationship-doctor/
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Caregivers in Pinellas Park, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
