Having good communication between caregivers and healthcare professionals can have many positive outcomes. Improvements can be seen with greater care for the patient, reduction in stress and illness for a caregiver, and better use of everyone’s time.
For increased communication, caregivers and healthcare professionals can benefit from these easy-to-use tips:
- Make sure the doctor understands the caregiver’s role
- Caregivers should educate themselves about their loved one’s condition
- Keep records
- Appoint one family member as the main contact with the healthcare professional
- Take time to make decisions
- If there are a lot of questions, ask for a consultation appointment
- Ask about other resources like support groups or medication payment help
- Best of all, be appreciative
