Tips to Advocate for Your Elderly Loved One’s Health
As your elderly loved one gets even older, they may need someone to advocate for their health. This is especially true if your elderly loved one is having health issues where they can’t do very well advocating for themselves or if they just need an extra person such as a home health care provider to help support them at doctor appointments.
Home Health Care in Bryn Mawr PA: Senior Health
Knowing Their Medical History
Before you can truly advocate for your elderly loved one, you need to have as much information about their medical history as possible. That way, if anything comes up, you can talk to their doctors about this information and know how it is going to affect their current health issues. Some of the information regarding your elderly loved one’s medical history that you should have include:
- Past surgeries and procedures
- Medications (including the dosages and times)
- Doctor contact information
- Allergies
The more you know about your elderly loved one’s medical history, the better it will be for handling and managing their current and future health issues. This information can also help when you get home health care services, so these providers also know what is going on and what is needed.
Know Their Care Needs and Requests
You should also have a talk with your elderly loved ones about their care requests. Some of the questions you may want to ask them include:
- Would they accept a blood transfusion?
- Do they have or want a DNR?
- Will they get surgery if it is needed?
- Will they do chemotherapy if they get cancer?
- Are they allergic to any medications?
- Do they prefer a female or male doctors?
By knowing your elderly loved one’s care needs and requests, you can ensure they are getting the proper care from this point forward.
Knowing Who to Call
If you are going to advocate for your elderly loved one and their health, you will need to know who to contact if something happens. For example, if your elderly loved one is having chest pain – after you take them to the emergency room or call 9-1-1 – you should know to contact their cardiologist and primary care doctor. If your elderly loved one just has signs of Covid, it may be best to call their primary care physician to see what should be done.
Always Have a Medication List On-Hand
It is also important that you always have a medication list on-hand for your elderly loved one’s current medications. There should be a list with you in case anyone asks you what medications they are taking. There should also be a list by their refrigerator, nightstand, or somewhere else easy to get to. That way, whoever is caring for your elderly loved one in their home can access it, as well. This can help to prevent any medication interactions.
Home Health Care Conclusion
These are some of the best tips that you can use to advocate for your elderly loved one’s health. Now that you have these tips, you can work with your elderly loved one’s home health care providers, other family caregivers, and doctors to ensure they are getting the best care.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Bryn Mawr, PA, and the surrounding area please contact the friendly staff at Suma Home Care. (484) 206-4544
Sources
https://aging.sc.gov/
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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