November is National Family Caregivers Month. Nearly 50 million Americans will provide care to a chronically ill, aged or disabled family member in any given year, meaning we may all be family caregivers at some point.
When it comes time for you to lend a helping hand, here is a list of questions to ask when visiting a doctor:
Does this diagnosis put any restrictions on my loved one?
As a caregiver, how can I best help my loved one?
Are there any resources available for the medications my loved one is taking?
What's the plan of treatment from here?
What happens if the diagnosis gets worse?
Are there foods or exercises he/she should avoid?
Can you provide a copy of his/her medical records?
How can I reach you for further questions?
Looking for more resources? EmblemHealth's Care for the Family Caregiver initiative offers information, resources and support for caregivers.