Tyson took a deep breath before dialing his parents' number. He loved his parents, but worried the forthcoming conversation could be difficult. At 39, Tyson was starting to think more about his parent’s health and wanted to have an open discussion with his parents, William and Debbie.
"Hey Mom, it's Ty," he said when his mother picked up. "Is Dad around too? I was hoping we could talk about something important."
Debbie called William to the phone. Tyson began, "I want you both to know I'm asking these questions from a place of love. As you are getting older, I want to understand your health situation better so I can help when needed. Can we start to talk through your insurance, medications, doctors, and health goals?"
William sighed, reluctant to confront these issues. But Debbie said, "We may as well, dear. Tyson is just looking out for us. What would you like to know?"
Tyson felt relieved. He pulled out the list of four health topics to keep the conversation productive.
When you are a part of a health support network, conversations about health with aging loved ones, including parents, can be difficult. Researchers found evidence that parents, adult children, and other loved ones avoid discussing health topics, even when it could be valuable to care planning (Bevan & Sparks, 2011). If the support network is geographically distanced, additional challenges to communication were present.
To aid these conversations, we identified four vital health topics that can help you start health conversations with aging loved ones. This list is meant to structure the conversation between you and your loved ones. It covers the following four topics about an aging loved one’s health:
Open the conversation with direct, factual information on their specific health insurance plan. This information can be used to understand available benefits, assist in future open enrollment periods, and share with healthcare professionals, if needed.
If you are unfamiliar with the Medicare health insurance options, please see the CareKate blog post “It’s Time to Help Your Parents Pick the Right Medicare Plan”.
First, determine if your loved one has traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or a Medicare-Medicaid health insurance plan. This can be done by reviewing their beneficiary card.
Traditional Medicare can include Part A (hospitalizations), Part B (professional services), and Part D (pharmacy). Some aging loved ones may have enrolled in a Medigap or Medicare Supplement plan.
If they have Medicare Advantage or a Medicare-Medicaid plan, these are run by a private health insurer or the state where your loved one lives. Write down the plan name, your loved one’s beneficiary number, the website address of the plan, and any plan phone numbers from the identification card or website.
Ideally, you may want to store a picture of their health insurance card. Once you have documented the insurance details, the next area to discuss is their medications and supplements.
Trying to figure out how the steps for caring for an aging parent or other aging loved one? Don't face it alone.
Talk to one of our support coaches and discover how CareKate, LLC supports those who support the health of an aging loved one.
Book your free 20-minute talk with a support coach now and take the first step to making caring for an aging loved one more manageable.
Limited spots available each week.
Your loved one may be taking a few different medications and dietary supplements.
Ask your aging loved one the following questions:
With medications and dietary supplements documented, the next step is to understand your loved one's healthcare providers.
Seniors may see multiple physicians, and there are other common specialties need by those over 65.
The most common physician specialties for seniors are:
We recommend asking your aging loved one if they see each of these specialty physicians as to trigger their memory. In our experience, people have forgotten their dentist or optometrist without prompting, but they are all important members of your loved one’s care team.
At the end, you may want to ask about a few other physician specialties, such as oncologist or otolaryngologist (ENT), or other provider types such as dieticians, physical/occupation therapists, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants.
With the factual health information of insurance, medications/supplements, and physicians covered, you can now move the conversation to understanding their personal health and wellness goals.
The last of the four vital health topics looks at health & wellness goals. At this point, you should want to prompt initial discussion to learn more about your aging loved one’s desires for their health. Please allow them to reflect on these questions, and they may need time to think about them prior to answering.
The two questions to ask are:
Hopefully, these opening questions can lead to deeper discussions. If additional resources are needed on refining your aging loved one’s health goals, please see our blog series on Health & Wellness Goals.
With these conversations started and health details documented by following these four vital health topics, you are on your way to building a stronger support network for your aging loved ones and empowering their health journey.
After covering these four main topics, Tyson felt a sense of relief.
"I really appreciate you both taking the time to go through these questions with me," Tyson said. "I know that wasn't the easiest conversation."
"You asked thoughtful questions, son," William replied. "At first I was hesitant to talk about this, but I'm glad we did."
Debbie added, "Now you understand our insurance, medications, doctors, and what health goals matter most to us. It makes me feel more at ease knowing you have all that information."
"I care about you two." Tyson said. "And, I want more open communication going forward. Please reach out anytime to share your health updates. I'll help however I can and will check in more regularly. Deal?"
"Deal," William and Debbie replied. The conversation felt difficult initially, but gave assurance that important health issues don't need to go undiscussed.
Having open and caring conversations with aging loved ones about their health can lead to better care and outcomes. This list of four starter topics aims to provide a framework to make these potentially difficult discussions a little easier.
The key is creating a safe space for your loved one to share at their own pace. Listen openly without judgment. Validate their feelings and let them know you care. With patience and empathy, keep lines of communication open.
Over time, these communications can build trust so healthcare decisions can be made thoughtfully together. Caring for one's health is a team effort with family and friend support playing a huge role.
Use this list as a starting point, and then you can continue nurturing conversations on an ongoing basis. Stay connected in your loved one's health journey.
This is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, CareKate, LLC does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the content. Reliance on any information provided on this page is solely at your own risk. CareKate, LLC assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the contents of this information.
The information provided is not intended to replace the services of trained professionals. Readers are encouraged to consult with their healthcare providers and other qualified professionals for personalized advice and guidance tailored to their specific situation.
This page contains a fictional patient narrative intended for educational and informational purposes only. The characters and individual story depicted are invented by the author as a composite case study. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental. This creative fictional account is not intended to represent any specific person or events.
Bevan, J. L., & Sparks, L. (2011). Communication in the context of long-distance family caregiving: An integrated review and practical implications. Patient Education and Counseling, 85(1), 26-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2010.08.003
CareKate, LLC
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Copyright © 2024 CareKate, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy