Making Doctor Visits Easier For Your Senior Loved One in Chelsea
It’s crucial for seniors to regularly see their doctors for checkups. With regular visits, your senior loved one can catch warning signs of illness early and receive expert guidance on how they can stay healthy. This is often easier said than done, though.
Many older adults have anxiety regarding medical appointments. Others have a difficult time physically attending appointments because of physical disabilities or a lack of reliable transportation.
With enough careful planning and thought, though, you can make it simple for your senior loved one to attend all necessary checkups and keep themselves healthy.
Why Some Seniors Struggle With Doctor Visits
As discussed previously, it’s not always easy for seniors to attend doctor visits. Many seniors are no longer able to drive, which makes getting to a medical office a challenging endeavor.
Some seniors also have mobility problems, such as muscle weakness or arthritis, that make it even harder to get into their doctors’ offices.
Even if your senior loved one is physically able to attend appointments, they may still struggle with the psychological aspect of seeing a doctor.
Many seniors worry they’ll receive bad news at a checkup and have to undergo serious medical procedures.
How To Make Doctor Visits Less Stressful
Addressing the physical challenges associated with getting to the doctor can be relatively simple. Offer to drive your senior loved one to their doctor’s office, or hire a caregiver or senior rideshare service.
If they struggle with a physical disability, offer to provide mobility assistance during their visit.
Handling the mental challenges of seeing a doctor is typically more challenging, but certainly still manageable.
Before your loved one’s appointment, create a list of any health symptoms they’re experiencing, medications they’re taking, previous medical procedures, and any questions they have for their doctor.
Provide your senior with loving reassurance, and remind them that it is completely normal to experience some nervousness when going in for a checkup.
How Our Angels Can Help With Medical Appointments
At Visiting Angels of Chelsea, we send compassionate in-home caregivers to lend a helping hand to seniors in the greater Chelsea area.
Our Angels can drive your loved one to and from medical appointments, provide mobility assistance, and offer emotional support.
We are available as often as needed to provide your loved one with the assistance they need to attend their checkups and other medical appointments.
Additional Support Provided at Home
After your loved one gets home from the doctor, we’re ready to help them follow any recommendations they’ve received.
While we do not provide medical care, we are here to help your senior loved one with medication reminders, assistance performing light exercises, and meal preparation services to help them follow their doctor’s recommended diet.
We can also offer your loved one additional services such as palliative care, dementia care, and other types of specialty non-medical care to help them navigate the symptoms of chronic illness.
Find Out More About How We Can Assist!
If you’d like our help making your loved one’s trips to the doctor simpler and less stressful, contact our team at Visiting Angels of Chelsea today!
We are happy to send one of our professional caregivers directly to your home to talk with you and your senior loved one about our services, scheduling options, and more.
If you are ready to take the first step in improving your senior loved one’s overall well-being and finding peace of mind, call our office at 617-409-9039 or use our online contact page to schedule your free in-home care evaluation today!