Each Home Instead Senior Care franchise office is independently owned and operated Home Instead, Inc.

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1 Each Hme Instead Senir Care franchise ffice is independently wned and perated Hme Instead, Inc.

2 The nrmal aging prcess, which may invlve sensry lss, decline in memry, and slwer prcessing f infrmatin can make a dctr s visit a trubling and scary prpsitin fr many senirs. Truly at a time when they need t have the best cmmunicatin pssible with their healthcare prviders, the challenges f aging makes it mst difficult. Helping yur parents prepare fr visits with their medical prfessinals can assure that they will receive the best care pssible and have psitive utcmes. This wrkshp will utline why it s imprtant fr yur parents t have gd cmmunicatin with their healthcare prviders and the pssible cnsequences f nt ding s. Fr example, accrding t a 2006 article in the Washingtn Pst at least 1.5 millin Americans are sickened, injured r killed each year by errrs in prescribing, dispensing and taking medicatins. After we lk abut what gd cmmunicatin can ffer, we ll see what legal frms and ther dcuments yur parents need in rder t assure that their medical wishes will be met, even if they are nt in a psitin t cmmunicate it directly. Did yu knw? Accrding t the Handbk f Cmmunicatin and Aging Research, in the United States, peple ver the age f 65 visit their dctr an average f eight times per year, cmpared t the general ppulatin s average f five visits per year. Finally we ll prvide yu with tips and strategies fr yur parents t fllw befre, during and after a visit with a healthcare prvider. WHY IT S IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION As ur parents age and have increasing health prblems, there is the likelihd that they will have mre than ne dctr r medical practitiner in their life. A primary care physician may be the quarterback f yur parent s general care, but it is likely ther team members such as medical specialists, physical therapists, eye dctrs, mental health cunselrs, pharmacists, chirpractrs, and acupuncturists will play a part in managing their health. Having s many healthcare prviders can be cnfusing and verwhelming. Remembering t fllw all f their different instructins r making sure they all knw what each ther is prescribing might be mre than yur parent can manage. Vlunteering t step in and ffering help and supprt may be just what yur parent needs in rder t maintain r imprve their health. Here are a number f reasns why yur supprt might help imprve cmmunicatin with healthcare prviders: One benefit t imprving cmmunicatins is reduced repeat visits. Often, senirs will g back t the dctr r visit several dctrs fr the same issue because they frgt t mentin smething befre, such as a symptm r a new medicatin prescribed by anther healthcare prvider. By being prepared fr visits, they can likely get the treatment right the first time. Wrkbk: Cmmunicate with Healthcare Prviders Page 2 f 7

3 By ging in armed with all f their medical details, they can help avid medical errrs. These errrs culd nt nly make them sicker, but culd jepardize their life. And it s nt just visits t the dctr that they need t be diligent abut. When ging t the pharmacy, especially if they use mre than ne pharmacy, it s imprtant that yur parent have all the details f their medicatins and ver-the-cunter drugs t avid ptentially life-threatening drug interactins. With better cmmunicatin, yur parents can really becme active partners in managing their wn health. It can als give them the cnfidence they need t ask fr mre infrmatin and discuss the risks and benefits f treatment ptins. They are als mre likely t understand their medical cnditins. A thrugh understanding enables them t fllw thrugh n their treatment plans, reduce the risk, and find supprt frm ther peple in similar situatins. In the end, gd healthcare cmmunicatin means yur parents can maintain sme f the independence they desire. That s great fr bth them and yu as their caregiver. Ntes: LEGAL DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICAL HISTORY T play an active rle in the management f yur parent s healthcare, especially thrugh cmmunicatins with their medical prviders, the first thing yu ll need t have them d is sign a medical release frm. A federal law knwn as HIPAA (Health Insurance Prtability and Accuntability Act) prtects the privacy f everyne s medical infrmatin. HIPAA des nt allw yur parent s health care prviders t share their medical infrmatin with anyne unless yur parents can give them permissin by filling ut an "Authrizatin fr Release f Infrmatin" frm. Yu can ask yur parent s medical prviders if they require a specific frm, but there are many generic frms n the Internet that yu can dwnlad. In general the frm shuld include the fllwing infrmatin: Yur parent s name and date f birth The name f the health care prvider r rganizatin wh is releasing the infrmatin Tip D let yur parent knw that these permissin frms can be canceled by them at any time and fr any reasn. The name f the persn, such as yurself with whm the infrmatin can be shared Wrkbk: Cmmunicate with Healthcare Prviders Page 3 f 7

4 What infrmatin yur parents wish shared The dates when the infrmatin can be shared Yur parent s signature The next three frms that yu may want t suggest t yur parents are called Advance Medical Directives. These frms pertain t treatment preferences and the designatin f a surrgate decisin-maker in the event that yur parent shuld becme unable t make medical decisins n his r her wn behalf. Advance directives generally fall int three categries: health care prxy, durable pwer f attrney, and living will: Categry Health Care Prxy Descriptin This is a legal dcument in which yur parent designates anther persn t make health care decisins if he r she is rendered incapable f making their wishes knwn. The health care prxy has, in essence, the same rights t request r refuse treatment that the individual wuld have if capable f making and cmmunicating decisins. Medical Pwer f Attrney (als knwn as a Pwer f Attrney fr Healthcare, r Patient Advcate Designatin) Names a specific persn t act as the patient's "agent," "prxy," r "attrney-in-fact." It generally gives the appinted persn legal authrity t ensure the patient's wishes are fllwed and make all ther decisins related t their medical care, including: Cnsenting t r refusing any medical treatment r diagnstic prcedure related t physical r mental health, including artificial nutritin and hydratin, Hiring and firing medical prviders, Admitting them t and discharging them frm hspitals and lng-term care facilities, Accessing all medical recrds, and Giving directins regarding rgan dnatin. Specifies in writing what types f medical treatments are desired. Living Will The mst cmmn statement in a living will reads: If I suffer an incurable, irreversible illness, disease, r cnditin and my attending physician determines that my cnditin is terminal, I direct that life-sustaining measures that wuld serve nly t prlng dying be withheld r discntinued. Lets medical prfessinals and ther decisin makers knw yur parent s preferences and can authrize smene t speak n the persn's behalf. Withut a living will, patients wh can't cmmunicate may be left t the cnfused decisins f squabbling family members r the mercy f dctrs wh might use artificial means t prlng life, r refuse t d s. Wrkbk: Cmmunicate with Healthcare Prviders Page 4 f 7

5 In additin t discussing advanced directives with yur parent, yu can help him r her pull tgether a persnal medical histry. This written list shuld include: dates f health visits sicknesses treatments immunizatins childhd illnesses medicatins allergies hspitalizatins surgeries dctrs' names insurance infrmatin ther significant family medical issues relevant lifestyle activities and wrk histry D Nt Resuscitate (DNR) Order Yur parent may als want t cnsider having an ut-f-hspital d nt resuscitate rder. This dcument allws yur parent t state that they d nt want t be resuscitated if they stp breathing r their heart stps beating. Withut this dcument, calling 911 will always result in resuscitative attempts. It s a gd idea fr bth yu and yur parents t have a cpy f this infrmatin and fr them t take a cpy t medical appintments especially if it s with smene new. Ntes: TIPS FOR YOU AND THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO FOLLOW Befre any medical appintment, try t help yur parent prepare fr the visit: Make sure they have a cpy f their medical histry t share with any new healthcare prviders. If it s a visit t a specialist as a result f sme ther event r diagnsis, yur parent shuld bring medical recrds, including any diagnstic r ther test results. Have yur parent write dwn questins related t the tpic and take it with them t the appintment. It is a gd idea t fcus n ne subject r issue per visit. If yu think that extra time might be needed, be sure t call ahead s the dctr s ffice can accmmdate this request. This demnstrates respect fr the dctr s schedule, but it als may assure that mm r dad isn t ging t feel verly rushed and can get the infrmatin they need. Wrkbk: Cmmunicate with Healthcare Prviders Page 5 f 7

6 At the appintment, there are sme gd practices yur parent shuld fllw: Ask t sit face-t-face with the healthcare prvider. This is especially imprtant if yur parent has visin r hearing issues. Take ntes and frequently summarize what the dctr says t make sure they have heard it crrectly. This als gives yur parent the pprtunity t ask fr clarificatin n smething that might have been misunderstd the first time arund. It can als be a benefit t the dctr because he r she wants t make sure that what they are saying is being understd. Remember that it s OK t ask questins. Yur parents might nt want t appear like a pest s they ften just let things g. But the reality is this is their health they are dealing with and it shuld always be OK fr them t ask as many questins as necessary t be cmfrtable in their wn knwledge. Tip Yu may nt need t g n every dctr visit, but yu might hear smething they dn t r be able t explain any symptms r changes that might develp. If yu d g t the appintment, yu may need t have yur parent fill ut a medical infrmatin release frm giving yu permissin t speak with the dctr directly at any time. Ask fr any fllw-up instructins in writing. This way they can refer t it later and if yu r ther family members have a questin, the infrmatin will be readily available t review. After the appintment, if either yu r yur parent is dissatisfied with the healthcare received, it s vital that yu speak up: If yur parent s dctr is part f a practice, ask t speak with the manager at that practice. Yur parent may be referred t anther practitiner if the situatin can nt be reslved. Depending n the nature f the prblem, yu might als cnsider filing a reprt with the state licensing bard respnsible fr cvering that particular healthcare prvider. Never fear taking yur case t higher authrities. Bth yur parent s health and that f thers may be at stake. Ntes: TAKING ACTION As mre medical ptins becme available and yur parents health changes, it s imprtant t prvide them with sme guidance abut hw t manage the healthcare prcess. Ding s culd help them t have lnger and healthier life. Think abut yur next steps, and hw yu can create yur wn actin plan: 1. The first thing I will d t imprve the cmmunicatin between my parents and their healthcare prviders is: 2. Resurces I need t search, talk t, r meet with befre the next dctr s appintment are: 3. The mst imprtant questins fr me t ask my parent s healthcare prviders are: Wrkbk: Cmmunicate with Healthcare Prviders Page 6 f 7

7 Actin plan: Wrkbk: Cmmunicate with Healthcare Prviders Page 7 f 7