How to Talk with a Parent’s Physician About Senior Care

Family members, like those we work with in north Texas, often spot the warning signs that indicate a senior loved one needs help before they even realize it themselves. An adult child might question if a parent’s balance issues make them unsafe living alone at home or if a change in their senior’s personality is really a symptom of the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

The best person to turn to for advice is typically your family member’s primary care physician. He or she can help you assess the situation and make recommendations on what type of senior care they feel might be the next step.

Preparing to Talk with a North Texas Senior’s Physician

Our best advice is to prepare well for the appointment. Be ready to share as much detailed information as you can in an organized, efficient manner.

Here are a few tips to help you do that:

1. Keep a Journal: For the physician to get a true picture of the situation, he or she will need to know what you see each day that has you concerned. Use a journal or a calendar to write down any unusual symptoms you noticed that day.
    
   It also helps to track what activities your senior loved one participated in, what they ate each day, how much water they drank, and how well they slept the night before. This tracking can make it easier to identify trends such as aggression when they haven’t had a good night’s rest or weakness and confusion when they have had too many sugary treats.
2. Prepare Your Questions: The next step is to review all of the information from your journal and condense it in to a list of talking points a day or two before your appointment. The hectic pace at many physicians’ offices can make it easy to forget some of the important items you wanted to discuss unless you have them written down. It also makes it easier for the busy physician to see and hear your concerns.
3. Talk with Your Senior: This final tip is one that can be very tricky. Before you get to the appointment, you will need to discuss your concerns and how they will be shared with your aging loved one. Do they want to speak for themselves or do they prefer to have you share the list of concerns on their behalf? While it is important to protect the senior’s dignity and sense of independence, it is equally important for their physician to get an objective idea of what is going on.

Our final tip is to explore some of the technologies that make tracking and sharing care-related information easier. My Medical and Track My Medical Records are two cell phone apps you might find helpful.

Advice & Guidance on Senior Care in North Texas

Should your aging loved one’s physician recommend you explore options for residential care or senior living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, please contact Senior Living Specialists for advice. Our experienced, local Senior Care Advisors can help you find a solution that best meets your needs.

Senior Living Specialists is a free service for seniors and their families. We are compensated by a referral fee when a senior moves into a community or care home.