Caregiving and managing medical care
Caregiving can get complicated quickly. You may be faced with multiple medical issues, making health care appointments, dealing with potential hospitalization or working with a detailed home health care plan. Not to mention learning how to communicate well with health care providers.
Organizing medicine
It’s not unusual for patients who require caregiving to be taking multiple medications. It may help to stay organized and keep detailed notes in a medical binder (or an important document binder).
Day-to-day medication management can include:
- Keeping track of how to take medications correctly
- Getting prescriptions filled
- Understanding how medications are covered by insurance
Some resources that might help with this aspect of caregiving:
Prescription drugs introduction
Managing visits to health care providers
As a caregiver, you may need to make health care appointments and possibly attend these appointments with the loved one you’re caring for. In either situation, organization of medical records and other information — such as prescriptions and other provider visits — is key.
Try using these resources to help manage medical appointments and keep information in one place:
Understanding other caregiving options
Caring for your loved one on your own is likely not your only option, and it may not be sustainable for the long haul. Depending on your loved one’s condition and prognosis, you may need to look into other options. These resources can help you get a sense of what’s available.
Caregiving considerations for specific health conditions
There are many different caregiving situations, and a lot can depend on the health condition of the person you’re caring for. If you’re a caregiver for a person with cancer, you may look for a support group that’s focused just on cancer needs. Here are some resources that focus on common questions and concerns based on different health conditions.