As our parents age, they need help navigating the health care system and becoming that navigator with them can be a difficult transition. The first thing to remember is that you have become part of your loved one’s health care team, so you need to get to know the rest of the people on the team: Know their providers, know the people who come into their home to help take care of them, know the way they all interact together and the services they provide for that member of your family. One of the hardest transitions is to remember the person you are helping is used to being an independent, fully functional adult who makes decisions on their own and now you’re helping them make those decisions. If you can include the family member as much as possible in making the decisions and being part of the planning, it usually makes things easier for them and it makes it an easier adjustment for both of you. The other thing I encourage with my patients here at the office and with my family members is to begin this conversation with your family early. The best way to be part of the health care team for someone you love is to know how they feel about the decisions about their own health care decisions and about the things that will affect their health care. Start the discussions with your family early. Let them know how you feel about specialists, and aggressive treatments and end of life care.
