2. Physical and Mental Health
Topic 1 of 6
The GP is everything
Your elders may have had the experience of going to the GP and being overwhelmed with information. When elders have a strong advocate, their health outcomes improve dramatically. Also, a GP who knows that an elder is well supported, and that their instructions will be followed up makes it easier for them to treat the patient.
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As their advocate, you should help make their medical appointments and accompany them. You don’t speak for your elder, but you can prompt your elder about worries they may have forgotten, but you have written down because no one remembers everything. Very often, you can also usefully translate what the doctor is saying if they are softly spoken or behind a mask.
Your job is also to write everything down that the doctor says and help your elders follow through. You know, follow through with the scans, blood tests, changes of medication, [snorts] or simply drinking more water. Top tip, write everything down. Your notebook is your friend.
Supporting your GP
Let’s explore some tips for helping your doctor talk to your elder.
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Ageing requires regular visits to a good GP, one who knows your elder. Going with your elder to their appointments will make sure their concerns are communicated and the GP’s instructions are understood.
You do not need to be the legal Enduring Guardian to accompany your elder to the GP. In most cases your GP just needs to know that your elder has asked you to be there. You are the trusted keeper of all the information that the GP needs to do their job properly.
Your job is to make sure communication between your elder and their doctor is clearly understood. If necessary, ask the GP to repeat or speak up.
It is important to be present when the GP is prescribing or changing your elders’ medications. There are some medications and treatments that may be difficult for your elder to manage. They may be vision impaired, or find it physically difficult to cut pills, remove ‘safe’ packaging, or squeeze drops from a small bottle or reach their toes.
As their informed and vigilant advocate, you need to make sure that any medications prescribed can be safely managed.
Your elder might have a particular concern that needs to be investigated or may need a renewed referral to a specialist. What are your expectations for the visit? What does your elder want out of this appointment? Your notebook will help you prioritise. Consult your notebook as you would a trusted friend.
Don’t forget your notebook (have we mentioned it enough?). Have all the things your elder wanted to mention to the GP written down so you can remind them if they forget something. Then write down the GP’s responses and recommendations. At the end of the consultation, double check with the GP that your notes have included everything.
Most importantly, remember to make sure that wherever possible, the GP speaks with your elder not with you. You are the notetaker and if necessary, the translator.
The GP Checklist
It’s normal to feel unsure or even overwhelmed as you try to figure out the best way to support the health and wellbeing of the person you care for. The GP Checklist is important to help you help your elder. The checklist reminds our elders to identify and explain their concerns, to ask about new prescriptions and support care plans, and to manage any acute conditions without forgetting the chronic ones.
You can view and print the checklist by going to the resources section below.
Module 2
Resources
MODULE 2
