The HealthCare System

Dealing with physicians, hospitals, labs, therapists and others in the healthcare field is difficult enough when doing it for yourself. Now that you are providing support and service for your loved one, you may also have to add helping them cope with the healthcare system to your already full plate.

The National Institute on Aging has published a very good guide book, ”Talking With Your Doctor,” that not only provides tips and suggestions for dealing with the health care system, but also contains a list of other pertinent resources, such as ‘Care in the Event of a Terminal Illness’ plus worksheets that can help you identify areas to discuss with the physician and a chart to list your loved ones medications.

Or, you can go to the National Family Caregiver Association’s web site for quick fact sheets on dealing with insurance company personnel and communicating effectively with hospital staff.

A very important aspect of dealing with the healthcare system involves discharge planning. Planning the discharge is crucial when your loved one has been hospitalized or institutionalized in any facility and is now ready to leave. The United Hospital Fund provides a helpful resource that can make the transition smooth and, more importantly, to avoid those mistakes that result in readmission.

If you have a parent or loved one currently residing in a nursing facility who wishes to return to their home or community, resources exist in Pennsylvania that can make that possible. Nursing Home Transition assists in every detail of returning to the community from assessment of need to locating suitable housing and services. To get more information about Nursing Home Transition contact the Long-Term Living Helpline at 1-866-286-3636

You can also find information on navigating the system at Net of Care’s “Now You Are A Caregiver-Resource Directory.” This directory focuses on medical care from the standpoint of the caregiver or support-giver. The directory is a product of the Beth Israel University Hospital and Manhattan Campus for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This resource also provides advice on recognizing and dealing with medical emergencies and medical management of chronic conditions at home.