Home Care Agencies: Your Elderly Loved One Should Have a Companion On Doctor’s Visits

The available data studying patient outcomes in the elderly is increasingly showing that the elderly should have a companion accompany them to the doctor. An even better option is to have the same companion for every trip.

At least 1/3 of the elderly are now bringing companions on doctor’s visits, and that number is expected to keep increasing.  After all, it is easy to see all the ways this is better for them:

• The companion can drive them, if driving has become a challenge.
• The presence of a companion reduces pressure on the elderly person to remember everything that is said by a doctor.
• The companion can take notes, if needed, which can be difficult for those with arthritis or other dexterity issues.
• Over the course of several visits, the companion can be an important source of information for ongoing health issues, medication use, and other matters the elder might forget.

Many times this companion is a family member, but what if outside factors make this difficult or impossible? Home care agencies can provide companions who are uniquely qualified to help them on their doctor’s visits!

Home Care Agencies Bring Companions To The Elderly

Some professional caregivers are live-in, caring for your older relative all the time. Others can be called in when needed, if elderly loved ones are generally able to take care of themselves but still need help in certain situations.

In these cases, a caregiver from a home care agency can serve as your surrogate, accompanying an older family member on doctor’s visits and providing all the services needed to ensure the best medical outcomes. The caregivers at Neighborly Home Care have also received nursing training and will be familiar with the language and terminology a doctor would be likely to use.  They will be able to take accurate notes, and report back to the family on everything that happened. The caregivers can also help your loved one remember the doctor’s instructions, and ensure they receive all the medicines prescribed.

A home caregiver who provides regular care to an elderly loved one is also able to give the doctor helpful and accurate information about the daily routine, symptoms, and reactions to medicine. This beneficial service could aid the doctor in making better diagnoses or in prescribing proper doses of medication.

This care can also go a step further.  Home care agencies can provide caregivers to accompany your loved one to the hospital, staying with them if necessary, and acting as your proxy throughout their stay.  No one should have to stay in a hospital alone, especially an aging person.

Home care agencies can step in whenever the family is unable to, helping ensure the best medical outcomes for the people in their care. Having family members present is ideal, but having a professional and highly-trained caregiver is an excellent option. If an elderly loved one in your family needs help at the doctor, contact Neighborly Home Care today to discuss your options!

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Neighborly Home Care’s caregivers are all certified nursing assistants, or they have received equivalent training and passed a nurse aid skills assessment test. Neighborly Home Care is a leading home care provider in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware County. To learn more, contact Neighborly Home Care today.