Patient Advocacy for Older Adults

One lesson I learned years ago from my mother (a retired nurse) and have continued to see the importance of to this day is how critical it is for older adult patients to bring a family member, friend or companion with them when they visit their doctors.

It is important for everyone to do this when possible but especially vital for older people who can use the help of someone they trust to remind them of their questions for the doctor and to write down what the doctor’s answers are.

Prescribed medications tend to increase as we age and many medications have side effects which are compounded by the combinations, potential contraindications, various times they need to be taken, etc. All of this information can be both confusing to remember and necessary to review on a regular basis.

 
Doctors can tend to change dosages and prescriptions and sometimes generic medications are suddenly substituted rather than brand ones when the generic versions become available. It is important for patients to log the effects of any of these medication changes.

A written log/chart can be brought to the doctor with them. The patient advocate can remember to bring the chart, remember questions, and write down explanations. If the patient is feeling poorly, it is especially important to be accompanied. Patients who are symptomatic at the time of the visit can find even more challenge to communicate since they are dealing directly with their illnesses and associated pain, weakness, side effects of treating medications, etc.

My experience and that of many others is that, more often than not, doctors will pay better attention to you if you are accompanied by a friendly patient advocate.