The newsletter for all elder caregivers. Sent twice a month, and only by request. You are welcome to pass on Elder CareTips™ to anyone you think might be interested. You'll find information about how to get your personal subscription below.

Finding A New Doctor: Part 2

When you're looking for a new doctor, sticking a pin in the Yellow Pages probably isn't the best way to go. Using directories and other referral sources is a bit better (see Part 1 for two possibilities). Getting suggestions from friends is even better.

However you gather names, you still don't know whether you'll have a good fit until you do a little more checking. This time it will involve actually meeting the doctor and his staff.

A patient-(and consumer-) savvy doctor should be willing to give you a short "get acquainted" appointment without charge. Don't expect that this appointment will be very long, as doctors are insanely busy with patients. Be prepared with your written list of important questions and things you want to observe. Don't hesitate to take notes - you might not remember everything after you leave the office.

Here's a starter list. Add any additional items important to you:

Physical location

Convenient parking
Easy entry, with a good wheelchair ramp and roomy elevator
A safe place to sit while someone gets the car if it's raining or
too cold/hot
Room to maneuver a wheelchair inside the office

The Office

Staff is friendly and welcoming
Office is clean and neat
Convenient office hours (evenings? weekends?)
How long is the wait for an appointment?
Are patients usually seen close to their appointment time?
Who returns calls to the doctor (doctor, nurse, other)?
Is there a particular time of day when calls are returned?
Does the doctor ever communicate by email?
How are requests for prescription refills handled?

Other Practice Details

How many physicians are in the practice?
Are there multiple specialties in the practice?.
If yes, what specialties are represented?
Is the physician affiliated with one or more hospitals?
Which hospital does the physician prefer to use?
Does a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant sometimes see patients instead of the doctor?
Does the physician see and treat patients in the hospital?
Does the physician see and treat patients in the emergency room?
Who covers for the physician at night, on weekends or when he/ she is away?

Financial Details

Does the doctor accept Medicare assignment?
If not, will the office take care of filing Medicare claims on the
patient's behalf?
If the doctor is asked to complete other forms will there be a
charge?

The Doctor

Medical school attended
Special medical interests
Board certification(s)
Treats the patient with respect
Makes good eye contact and listens well
Allows sufficient time
Answers questions completely and clearly without medical jargon
Has a personality that is a comfortable fit with the patient's needs

Pay attention to your feelings during your get acquainted meeting. How you feel about your doctor will play a large part in how you both communicate and how well you and your elder follow through on his or her recommendations. If you like and trust the doctor you are much more likely to take his or her advice to heart. If you don't, odds are you are much more likely to be "noncompliant."

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Elder CareTip: Beware the Opportunist

Some people prey on the relatives of a deceased person whose name has been obtained from the obituary column. The victim's family receives authentic-looking bills, usually for relatively small amounts so they don't set off warning bells. The family member responsible for clearing up final matters often pays these without question.

If you've got a Reader Tip you'd like to share, please send it to me with the subject line "care tip."

Let me know if I can use your name. Or if you'd rather have me leave your name off, that's OK, too.

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I believe in loyalty. When a woman reaches an age she likes, she should stick to it.
- Zsa Zsa Gabor

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When A Loved One Is In Trouble

One of the most terrifying things about Alzheimer's Disease and the other related dementias is the constant worry that your loved one may wander away or suddenly become lost. The first incident almost always comes as a surprise. I can't tell you how many times a caregiver has told me, "Oh mother would never wander." And then, it happens.

Even when you've taken all the obvious precautions it can happen. In a stressful situation our loved ones with dementia often can't produce the information police and other emergency personnel need to get them identified and back home safely or treated in a medical emergency.

MedicAlert and the Alzheimer's Foundation are now offering an identification bracelet specifically designed to help individuals with Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias in emergency situations.

In an emergency, the emblem alerts medical professionals or first responders to call MedicAlert's 24-hour hotline to access vital information about the wearer.

Membership in the program includes a bracelet, a health record summary, 24-hour emergency response service, patient identification, emergency contact and family notification service, and 24-hour customer service.

You can get more information from MedicAlert.

Usual disclaimer: No referral fees or other payment received for this information.

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Updates:

Keeping Everyone Informed

You can spend hours talking on the telephone or writing to each of your concerned relatives and friends, updating them on a loved one's condition. You could create a message for your answering machine, but that still means that the phone rings incessantly if you're at home. If you're at the hospital you don't want to leave a message to the world that no one is at home and the house is ripe for a break-in.

So how do you keep everyone who can't be with you at this time up to date and informed? You can create a "CarePage" and give everyone updates all at once.

CarePages is a free service that allows you to create your own web page with information about an ailing loved one. Today, caregivers have created
more than 11,000 CarePages.

Pages are password-protected, and you control what information is released, so you don't have to worry about privacy issues. Bookmark this page if you don't need it now. You never know when you will.

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Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.
- Unknown

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It's May! Three male mallards have taken up residence in my yard - I wonder where their wives are. Maybe it's boy's month out while the mammas take care of the kids. They're certainly having a honking good time driving all the scaredy cats nuts. Then again, if I were a sensible cat being rushed by three great mallards with wings akimbo I'd beat a hasty retreat, too.

I really don't want to rush them off 'cause they're entertaining as all get-out, but have you ever seen what ducks leave behind when they're agitated? Oh, my!

'Till next time,

Don't keep us a secret. If you know other people who should be reading this too, then do them and us a favor by telling them about Elder CareTips(TM). Just send them this link: http://eldercareteam.com/resources/newsletter.htm

© 2005 Molly Shomer, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from Elder CareTips: Mastering The Eldercare Maze(TM) as long as you include complete attribution, including live web site link and email link. I would appreciate it if you would let me know where the material will appear.

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Molly Shomer
Head Coach
The Eldercare Team
http://www.eldercareteam.com
molly@eldercareteam.com
(972) 395-7823