Taking care of an elderly loved one often presents many challenges. One roadblock family caregivers may encounter is a senior’s resistance to attending his or her medical appointments. Fortunately, employing a few different strategies may convince older adults that it’s important to attend their regular physician visits.
Investigate the Resistance
Seniors who are refusing to go to the doctor may be noncompliant because of a simple underlying reason. If they fear medical procedures, allaying their anxiety by explaining the reasons for the visits may be enough to get them to keep the appointments. If they’re reminded that the purpose of the checkups is to monitor certain health conditions such as diabetes, they may also be more apt to comply.
Visiting the doctor isn’t the only way older adults can enjoy better overall health. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional senior care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Integrate Other Activities
Without seeming patronizing, a caregiver can incorporate another more enjoyable activity before or after the appointment to make the trip more interesting. Enjoying a lunch out at your loved one’s favorite restaurant or making a visit to a shopping mall may make the outing more tolerable for him or her.
Change the Routine
Recruiting another family member or a friend to take your loved one to the appointment may be enough to deter him or her from refusing to see the doctor. Some families may even want to consider hiring hourly caregivers. With hourly care, a trained professional caregiver can attend appointments with your loved one, providing encouragement and support to calm any feelings of anxiety. The caregiver can also offer companionship and transportation for other errands or activities.
Anchorage home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently.
Coordinate Care
If your loved one sees multiple practitioners, a good strategy to employ is to have all of his or her appointments scheduled for the same day, as long as being out for an extended period isn’t too taxing.
If you have a loved one who refuses to attend his or her medical appointments, put yourself in his or her shoes. Try to better understand your loved one’s fears or why he or she may not attend, and make going to the doctor an important part of maintaining health and happiness instead of a dreaded appointment.
For seniors who want to stay healthy, it’s important that they don’t avoid seeing the doctor, both for regular checkups and when problems arise. Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional live-in care Anchorage, AK, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your loved one, call us at (907) 770-0907 today.