Ask the Expert

Caregiving As a Two-Way Street

This month, we noticed an article at the Strength for Caring website (www.strengthforcaring.com—an excellent resource) that we thought would be useful for caregivers. So, rather than have one of our in-house experts tackle the issue of caregiver-doctor relations, we thought we'd just serve up the article to you! Here is a summary. You can read the full article by clicking on the link below.

Caregivers need to take an active role when it comes to dealing with their care receivers' doctors. In fact, more than 80 percent of medical problems can be diagnosed by the information the patient gives her physician! Before you see the doctor, ask questions of the friend or loved one you are taking care of. If he is not able to verbalize, use your best judgment! You are the one who has been taking care of your loved one most closely, so you will often be the doctor's best source of information.

How you educate yourself, explain facts, ask questions, and lead your loved one's healthcare team is crucial in a caregiving situation where the actual patient may not be totally capable of communicating with their health care providers on their own. You can use these techniques with any health condition. Everyone can benefit—make the communication a two-way street!

Read the article from Strength for Caring: Click Here.

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