It’s time for your mom’s yearly checkup. You’ve never given much thought to joining her. This year, it’s been on your mind. Your mom said she doesn’t care if you come. Here are some reasons why it is a good idea to attend her annual checkup.
She May Not Understand the Doctor’s Orders.
When a doctor tells you something is wrong, anxiety takes over. Your mom may hear she has high blood pressure. She’s upset and scared. In the process, she doesn’t hear everything her doctor says. Her mind is focused on the bad news.
If you attend her appointment, you can pay attention to the instructions on what she can do to lower it. You’ll know the dietary and exercise measures the doctor suggests. Back at home, you can help your mom better understand the changes she needs to make and any follow-up appointments that need to be scheduled.
You Advocate for Her.
You can be your mom’s advocate on health issues. To lower her blood pressure, he suggests she start taking a prescription medication. He prescribes a beta blocker, but he doesn’t say much more about it.
While you have him in the office, you can ask about side effects. You can find out if there are foods she should limit or avoid while taking the medication.
You Remain in the Know.
Your mom might not tell you everything her doctor says. He’s told her she’s obese with high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Would you know it if you didn’t attend the appointment? Maybe he tells her that she has pre-diabetes, too. She doesn’t tell anyone. No one can encourage her and help her take steps to improve her health.
You Can Ask Questions.
You have questions, but the nurse won’t take your call without your mom’s approval. Attend a doctor appointment and have your mom grant HIPAA permissions while you’re there. If there’s a medical power of attorney in place, you can also make sure that’s on file when you go to the doctor with her.
Is It Hard to Arrange Time Off to Go?
For some routine appointments, it helps to have a caregiver scheduling the senior care appointments and driving your mom to and from the medical office. You won’t have to take time off work to attend routine things like dental cleanings or yearly flu shots.
Save your personal time, sick days, and vacation for more important appointments. Keep them open for the days you’re ready for a break from work.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring senior care in Mountainside, NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299. Providing Home Care Services in all of Northern and Central NJ, including Clark, Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Rahway, Linden, Summit, Edison, Elizabeth, Mountainside and the surrounding areas.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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