Doctors make a significant contribution to your “Caregiving Team”. Every team needs to have a General Physician (GP) who specializes in the phase of life your loved one is in. For instance, an aging parent needs a doctor that specializes in geriatrics. It is important the GP has a holistic approach, or considers all of the circumstances and sees the full picture. In other words, just because a senior is confused and has memory issues, a doctor should not automatically diagnose Alzheimer’s. At a minimum, vital signs, blood and urine tests, a physical exam, medication review, and interviewing should take place.
As the administrator of an agency years ago, we had a care recipient that did not recognize her caregiver upon arrival. The caregiver noticed the care recipient had pulled all of her fabrics and yarns out of her closet. Boxes and boxes of quilting and crocheting supplies covered the entire living room and bedroom. The yarn was tangled around her oxygen tubing. Our RN immediately took the care recipient to the GP who specialized in geriatrics where a full exam, blood and urine tests, and oxygen levels were checked. The care recipient’s oxygen level was low and she had a urinary tract infection. The doctor explained the lack of oxygen in addition to the urinary tract infection created a chemical imbalance caused the confusion and her unusual behavior. Looking at the entire picture helped the doctor diagnose and treat his patient.
In addition to your GP, you may have a specialist such as cardiologist, neurologist, or urologist. While you or your parent may not get the ‘warm and fuzzy’ feeling from the specialist as you do with your GP, you do need to have the confidence they are providing and capable of providing good care. In addition, they need to have the experience and education to provide the specialized care. It is very important that the specialist communicate with your GP and the GP needs to make sure one specialist care does not conflict with other means of treatment.
When choosing doctors for your Caregiving Team, make sure they all have privileges at your hospital preference. If hospitalization occurs, having the ability to have necessary doctors visit assists in the treatment and recovery process. Introducing another doctor can cause more anxiety and lack of consistency in care.
Doctors are a critical member and a primary resource of your Caregiving Team. As a family CareGiver, your life will be more peaceful and less stressful if you choose the doctor that meets your loved ones needs. Take the time needed to find the right doctors.
Your CAREjourney guide,
Staci Witten
Sunday the 7th, 2010 at 9 a.m.
