How to Communicate with a Loved One's Healthcare Team

As a family caregiver, someone providing unpaid care for a loved one, you have likely taken on the role of patient advocate. As such, you’ll often find yourself in the middle of – or leading – conversations about your loved one’s health and care with the medical professionals in charge. You'll have medical terms and care instructions thrown at you, and more questions than you know what to do with. So in this article, we’ll go through some tips designed to help you effectively communicate with your loved one’s healthcare team. Let’s dive in.

Learn as Much as You Can

The first thing you should do when trying to forge effective communication is to learn as much as you can about the diagnosis/medications to give yourself a base level of information to work with. 

This will help you both understand the things the care team says to you, while also helping you formulate better/more effective questions when you get the chance to ask them. It can also help you better understand your and your loved one’s options for care and treatment as time goes on.

Get to Know the Care Team

Trust and comfort make a huge difference in the overall healthcare experience, which is why it’s helpful to get to know the care team. Having a care team that knows you and your loved one – offering familiar faces and encouraging conversations – can help remove some of the tension that usually accompanies important appointments. 

Getting to know the care team can help you both through the ups and downs throughout this journey.

Ask Any Questions You Have

Any time you get in front of a medical professional is an opportunity. An opportunity to ask questions, get information, or share observations. Don’t be shy – use it.

You’re not a medical professional or expert in your loved one’s condition. Give yourself permission to ask questions, even if you feel ashamed or are afraid they sound silly. A good medical professional will happily walk you through your questions and help you understand everything you need to know.

Document Everything

Get a notebook or app to start documenting as much as you can. This notebook can include things like:

• New or worsening symptoms

• Anything you see or experience that seems abnormal (even if it doesn’t feel relevant)

• Any answers you get from medical professionals

• All questions that pop up between appointments – pro tip: use a color-coded highlighter, pen, or tabs to make the questions easy to find later

• Prescription information (things like administration frequency, dose information, and any details/particulars – like whether a meal is needed)

• Reactions to medications, foods, environments, people, etc.

• Any post-appointment follow-ups or to-dos 
  

Find a Team You Feel Comfortable With

If your loved one’s care team doesn’t feel like the right fit, you may want to consider making a change. Things like the care plan, communication, respect, and relationships can change with a switch in the primary care team.

Closing Thoughts: Communicating with a Loved One's Healthcare Team

The care team plays an integral role in your loved one’s health outcomes, comfort, and your experience as a caregiver. By building relationships with the care team, documenting your questions and any answers, and learning about the diagnosis, you can improve both the trust in your care team and care plan and any health outcomes. 

The California Caregiver Resource Center of Orange County is here to support you. Check out our library of resources to help you navigate this experience. Together, we can navigate the healthcare landscape and help you provide the best possible care for your loved one(s).

Further Reading: Navigating Resentment as a Caregiver

Caregiver resentment is a common emotional challenge that family caregivers face, way more often than they may admit (so you’re not alone in this even if it feels like it). Your resentment is natural, but it doesn't have to define your caregiving experience. In the end, finding balance and support is the key to a sustainable and fulfilling caregiving journey. 

So let’s talk about it: dive in here.