Talking with your doctor: a guide for older people

Opening Thoughts

Why Does It Matter? Choosing a Doctor You Can Talk to

Decide what you are looking for in a doctor

Identify several possible doctors

Consult reference sources

Learn more about the doctors you are considering

Make a choice

Getting Ready for Your Appointment

Be prepared: make a list of your concerns

Make sure you can see and hear as well as possible

Consider bringing a family member or friend

Plan to update the doctor

Sharing Information With Your Doctor

Be honest

Stick to the point

Ask questions

Share your point of view

Getting Information From Your Doctor and Other Health Professionals

Take notes

Get written or recorded information

Remember that doctors don't know everything

Talk to other members of the health care team

Learn the basics of the office

Share your medical history

Give information about your medications

Tell the doctor about your habits

Preventing Disease and Disability

Sharing Any Symptoms

Learning More About Medical Tests

Discussing Your Diagnosis and What You Can Expect

Talking About Treatments

Making the Most of Medications

Changing Your Daily Habits

Seeing Specialists

Surgery

If You Are Hospitalized

If You Have to go to the Emergency Room

Sexuality

Incontinence

Grief, mourning, and depression

Memory problems

Care in the event of a serious illness

Problems with family

Feeling unhappy with your doctor

Who Else Will Help? Involving Your Family and Friends

What's Next? Some Closing Thoughts

Getting More Information

Additional Resources

This material is reproduced with the permission of the National Institute on Aging.

To order paper copies of the publications, users may send e-mail requests to: niainfo@access.digex.net or write to the NIA Information Center, P.O. Box 8057, Gaithersburg, Maryland  20898-8057, USA.