If you are a caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease you probably know far too well about the importance of regular physician’s visits. It may be a challenge to keep up with all of the medical appointments, so here are some tips to assist you:
Schedule physician appointments for the time period during the day when your loved one is at his/her highest level of functioning. This is first thing in the morning for some individuals, after an afternoon nap for others. Observe the best time for your loved one during the day and schedule doctor appointments accordingly.
Prepare in advance by jotting down any questions or concerns you may have so that you won’t forget during the physician’s visit. Be sure to note any reactions to medications, improvement or decline in memory or functioning, as well as any behavioral changes.
Your physician will probably want to know about your loved one’s eating habits, elimination, any improvements or decline in symptoms including memory, ability to perform daily activities, any behavioral changes, sleep pattern, and more. Your response to questions is vital to your loved one’s medical care, particularly in the later stages of the disease.
When you get answers to your questions be sure to take notes so you won’t get home and forget and don’t be afraid to ask for further explanation if you don’t understand certain medical terms.
Consider what type of issues you need to address for future planning such as legal issues and/or respite care issues and don’t forget to include the physician’s opinions in your decisions for the future. Knowing what to expect in the future of AD is important to being an effective caregiver.
Write down questions you have about community resources, many physicians have a list of referrals, and/or can give you names of key people to contact for referrals such as community social workers.
Do your best to keep as much continuity of care as possible by staying with the same physician/s long term.
Switching doctors frequently can cause uncertainty and confusion for you and your loved one with AD. That’s not to say that getting a second opinion or seeking out a specialist is not a wise plan. Just be sure that if you do change physicians there is a valid reason.
Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease by joining our 25 lesson course for caregivers on AlzU.org by CLICKING HERE today.
