Seniors may see several different doctors over the course of a year, but their primary care physicians will be the ones who see them for checkups and coordinate care plans with other doctors. Since seniors require frequent doctor visits, selecting the right primary care physicians is absolutely crucial for their wellbeing. The ideal primary care physicians for seniors need to have the following five qualities.
1. Empathy
Many seniors try to avoid doctor visits because they feel stressed and upset. To make doctor visits go more smoothly, seniors should avoid doctors who tend to seem condescending or uncaring. Seniors will likely do best with doctors who can understand their concerns and take steps to make them feel cared for and understood. If their doctors have empathy, seniors are less likely to feel judged and leave out important details.
2. Strong Organizational Skills
Seniors frequently have more than one doctor because they visit specialists or get screenings at different facilities every now and then. If important paperwork or doctors’ notes get lost between different offices, a senior’s care could be greatly impacted. To properly coordinate all of these different doctor visits, a primary care physician needs to be able to efficiently transfer records and receive details about all treatments the senior is receiving.
Older adults who need transportation to medical appointments or help with the tasks of daily living should consider professional in-home care. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs live-in care, Clearwater, FL, Home Care Assistance can meet your family’s care needs. Our dedicated caregivers are available around the clock to provide transportation to doctor’s appointments, ensure seniors take their prescribed medications, and help with a variety of tasks in and outside the home.
3. Patience
Even seniors who don’t have dementia tend to move and think at a slower pace sometimes. Doctors who try to rush seniors through visits may miss important things or fail to provide enough information. A patient doctor is often a better choice because he or she will take the time to listen to a senior and explain health conditions and potential treatments.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of at-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Reliability
When it comes to healthcare, reliability and stability make a huge difference. Seniors need doctors who will always be available to help them instead of regularly canceling appointments or passing them over to other doctors. Doctors also need to be reliable in their treatments, taking the time to see if one thing will work instead of switching between various medicines and procedures constantly.
5. Knowledge about Seniors
A doctor with experience in senior health may be able to promptly notice issues or more easily provide a diagnosis. Any doctor for older adults needs to be experienced and educated in senior health. Keep in mind the oldest doctor won’t necessarily be the most knowledgeable. Seniors need doctors who stay up to date on the latest treatments for aging adults.
Selecting the right primary care physician isn’t the only difficulty you could face as a family caregiver. One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide home care service. Clearwater families can turn to Home Care Assistance for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties. Call us at (727) 330-7862 to learn about our comprehensive in-home care plans.