How Seniors Can Advocate for Their Own Healthcare
Seniors require more medical care and attention as they begin to suffer from the affects of aging. Aging can cause limited mobility and debilitating illnesses that can be treated with medical intervention. When you are constantly going to doctors’ appointments or frequently visiting the hospital, you will want to stay updated on your medical care so you can advocate for yourself. These are a few ways that you can advocate for your own medical care.
Verify Any Documents
By being meticulous with all documentation, paperwork, charting, and instructions, you can understand the whole picture and keep the records as you go. To avoid errors, inconsistencies, confusion, or omissions, carefully read all orders and confirm them with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals. If the mistake is discovered in time to be corrected, it might not even be a significant problem.
Take Notes during Appointments
Maintaining all of your medical reports in one location might be beneficial. Writing down instructions or information their medical team shares is frequently helpful to patients. You can review your statements if you can't remember what was stated during a meeting. When your family and friends ask, you want to be able to tell them honestly what your doctor has said in the appointment.
Speak Up
Speaking up and listening are both essential components of advocacy. Actively listen to your doctors’ needs, wishes, worries, and requests as they talk to your doctor. Speak up about your symptoms in your own words and be persistent about anything that feels off. Be open to listening to your doctors’ suggestions and testing advice, but make sure that you are heard.
Get Resources
As part of advocacy, you want to locate all pertinent materials inside and outside of your hospital or doctors’ office that can guide you along your medical journey. Find out more about the groups and resources in your area that give aid, financial support, transportation, home health care in Philadelphia, PA, and other services offered to seniors in your community.
Stay Updated on Preventative Care
When you feel uncomfortable about medical information you received during the phone call, you should take the time to make an appointment and consult with your doctor in person. Anytime you are concerned about an issue, make sure that you get in touch with the doctor. By practicing preventative care, you can tackle the issue before it gets any worse.
Bring a Support Person
As you age, you may want to enlist the help of a support person when you travel to doctors’ appointments. If you forget things the doctor says or you just need some extra help getting to and from the doctors’, trust a family member or close friend to help with these matters.
When you age, you want to stay on top of your health by asking questions and being your own advocate. If you find yourself in need of home health care in Philadelphia, PA, contact our team of professionals to hear about our range of home care services that make your life easier today.