As your senior parent gets older, it can be more difficult for them to manage their health. October is National Health Literacy Month, and it’s the perfect time to learn ways that you can help your senior parent keep track of their health records, insurance forms, and other documents.
A great way to help your senior parent manage their health on a day-to-day-basis is to get home care for them. Home care is essential for seniors that are living independently. A home care provider can help your senior parent with everything from washing the dishes to filling out an insurance form. And, since a home care provider is with your parent daily, they can help them schedule and manage medical appointments, eye checkups, dental cleanings, and much more.
The Challenges Seniors Face
Health management can be difficult even for younger people. Trying to juggle appointments between a PCM, specialists for different conditions, lab work and tests, and medical screenings can be very overwhelming for seniors. Cognitive decline, confusion, and difficult keeping up with technology like medical access portals and online scheduling can cause seniors to get overwhelmed.
In addition to getting home care to help your senior parent manage their health care and health records, you can do things like:
Create a Health Binder
A health binder is a simple but powerful tool. Get a sturdy binder and divide it into sections with tabs. Include insurance cards, copies of medical records, lists of medications, and emergency contacts.
You can also add recent test results, discharge papers from hospitals, and vaccination records. Having everything in one place saves time during appointments and helps doctors see the full picture of your parent’s health. It also prevents your parent from feeling overwhelmed by stacks of loose papers or questions they don’t understand from the doctor.
Keep an Updated Medication List
Many seniors take several prescriptions, which can be confusing. Write down every medication, the dosage, and when it should be taken. Add vitamins or over-the-counter items too.
Keep a copy in the health binder and another in your parent’s wallet or purse, in case of emergencies. This list makes it easier for doctors to check for interactions and ensures your parent always knows what they should be taking.
Use a Patient Portal Together
Most doctors and hospitals now offer online patient portals. These allow patients to see test results, request prescription refills, and message their doctors. Sit with your parent and show them how to log in and use the portal. If they aren’t comfortable with computers, you can help manage it for them. Using the portal keeps records organized and gives your parent faster access to important information. It also helps them feel more in control of their care.
Prepare Questions Before Appointments
Doctor visits can be stressful, and it’s easy to forget what to ask. Encourage your parent to write down questions before each appointment. These could include side effects of a medication, what a diagnosis means, or what lifestyle changes are recommended.
Bring the health binder to every appointment and take notes on the answers. This builds health literacy by helping your parent understand their condition and treatment better, while also making sure they don’t leave the office confused. If a home care provider is taking your parent to their appointments, ask them to bring the binder and keep it updated.
Provide Easy-to-Understand Resources
Medical language can be complicated. To improve health literacy, give your parent resources written in clear, simple language. Reliable websites like MedlinePlus or printed brochures from the doctor’s office can help.
It can be helpful to seniors to have a visual image of healthcare related information. You might also explain medical terms in your own words or draw charts to show how treatments work. The goal is to make health information less intimidating so your parent feels confident making decisions about their care.
Making Health Easy To Understand
Anything that you can do to make health care easier to understand will help your senior parent feel more in control of their care. A home care provider can go with your senior parent to appointments so they feel comfortable and have help getting to the right place, checking in, and making sure they address any concerns with their doctor.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Greer, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at (864) 990-4345.
Heart of the Carolinas Provides Senior Home Care Services in Greenville, Mauldin, Greer, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pawleys Island, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, Charleston, Columbia, Simpsonville, South Carolina, and surrounding areas.
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