Communicating with
Health Professionals

Imagine that your mother needs emergency care after she starts taking only half of her medicine to save money - without telling her doctor. Your father returns from a clinic visit with a referral for tests, but he doesn't know what they're for. The doctor can't find any cause for your mother's pain and suggests it may be a natural part of aging. Situations like these occur every day because of communication barriers between health care professionals and older patients.

Regular contact with the medical community and caring for an older parent often go hand-in-hand. Communicating effectively is critical to participating actively in medical decisions, getting the best results, and improving peace of mind. While potential barriers exist for both older persons and their family members, communicating with health professionals boils down to three things.

Ask questions to get the information you and your parent need to make decisions. Give health professionals the information they need about your parent to make informed judgments.

Get the information, services, and quality care your parent deserves.

What You Can Do
It is critical to respect your parent's wishes about how much he wants to communicate with health professionals and how much he wants to tell you about his health. You may want to talk with your parent about the importance of communication for safe and effective care. Your parent may want you to know about his health, but is unable or unwilling to talk directly to the doctor. With your parent's permission, you can communicate with the doctor or nurse yourself. If your parent is going to the doctor alone, share the following tips to ensure your parent gets the most out of the visit.

Ask questions. Many people come to doctor's visits with a list of questions and concerns on paper or a tape recording for capturing the answers. What illness do I have? What are the drug and nondrug treatment options? What is likely to happen with and without treatment? Does my insurance cover the treatment? If I have other questions that I think of after the visit, how can I contact you?

Give information. The doctor needs information about patients to make proper diagnoses and prescribe safe and effective treatment. Because many older people see more than one physician, their medical records don't always contain all the facts the doctor needs to know. It's important for each doctor to know all about the patient's health.

Talk with other health professionals. Nurses, Pharmacists, Social Workers, Dieticians, Physical and Occupational Therapists may provide explanations and answers.

Do your own research. Bookstores, libraries, and voluntary health organizations have a wealth of materials that can make you and your parent more informed partners.

Advocate for your parent's interest. While health professionals have the medical expertise you need, the service, attention, and quality care required don't always come automatically. You or your parent must often take an active role in getting the best service.

Be a team player. Just as you and your parent deserve respect, so do the health professionals with whom you interact. Now matter how frustrating a situation becomes, you are more likely to get what your parent needs if you remain constructive, polite, and businesslike. Other publications available from the WRAAA include the Really Smart Patient Notebook, a personal health care journal, which guides you in asking the right questions and recording treatment plans.