Reducing the costs of healthcare and increasing access and convenience are some of the benefits of telehealth. The services can also reduce some of the burden placed on family caregivers, such as taking time off from work to provide transportation. Using the services can be challenging for older adults, especially individuals who face difficulty with things like smartphone apps, live videos, or instant messaging. Take a look at how you can help an aging parent use telehealth services.
1. Follow Normal Guidelines
Just because your loved one is using telehealth to seek treatment doesn’t minimize the need for honesty. Your loved one should treat this visit like a typical in-person appointment. Following standard guidelines and speaking with the physician honestly could prevent medication mishaps and allow the doctor to assess the situation accurately and provide the best treatment options.
A variety of age-related conditions can make it challenging for seniors to live at home independently. Whether you need respite from your caregiving duties or your aging loved one needs Live-in Care, Oklahoma City, OK, Lifestar Home Care 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.
2. Be Prepared
If your loved one has chosen to use urgent care telehealth services, as opposed to speaking with his or her primary care physician, he or she should prepare to give some background information to the physician to reduce the risk of health problems and allow the doctor to make accurate judgments and recommendations.
In some instances, telehealth visits will occur immediately, but if the medical provider is running behind schedule, your loved one’s wait time could increase. Devoting a couple of hours to the visit ensures your parent is ready when a doctor becomes available.
3. Check Devices
Before scheduling a telehealth visit, your parent needs to ensure his or her smartphone, tablet, computer, or other web-enabled device works properly to avoid the call getting disconnected due to faulty equipment.
When checking a machine, verify the video screen and volume work correctly, and choose a reliable internet connection to prevent the call or video chat from being disconnected. You should also make sure your parent’s device is fully charged.
For family caregivers who find it challenging to balance their loved ones’ care needs with their own personal obligations and self-care needs, home care can be the ideal solution. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and are looking for professional elderly home care, Lifestar Home Care should be your top choice. Our dedicated and compassionate caregivers are committed to helping older adults address their health issues and enjoy a higher quality of life in the golden years.
4. Choose a Private Space
Background noise can disrupt the visit, which is why your loved one should take the call in a private space in the home. Avoid using a crowded area to eliminate background noise. If there’s a television in the room, make sure it’s turned off. The medical provider and your loved one need to hear each other clearly to ensure accurate information is relayed and prevent mishaps.
5. Ask Questions & Repeat Instructions
Your parent should ask critical questions and repeat the doctor’s instructions to ensure he or she understands correctly. It might help if you or another caregiver is present during the telehealth visit, as this allows you to ask other pertinent questions about the condition, treatment, and follow-up suggestions. The doctor may require testing or recommend another visit to determine if the treatment is working.
Using the internet for various activities is just one of the issues aging adults must navigate in today’s modern world. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Lifestar Home Care , a leading provider of Home Care Oklahoma City families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.