A short medical appointment can become frustrating if the caregiver arrives with scattered notes and leaves without answers to the most important questions. A simple preparation checklist can make the visit more useful.
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash.
This page complements our existing guide, Questions to Ask the Doctor About Alzheimer’s Care.
For a broader caregiving system, explore The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Compass™.
Bring one current medication list
Include prescription medicines, over-the-counter products and supplements, with doses and timing if known. Note recent changes and the reason for each change. Do not stop or alter medications without appropriate medical guidance.
Write down changes since the last visit
Use specific examples: new falls, changes in sleep, appetite, agitation, hallucinations, wandering, toileting, swallowing, mobility or ability to complete daily tasks. Include when the change began and whether it is getting better, worse or staying the same.
Choose your top three questions
Appointments have limited time. Decide before you arrive which three issues matter most. Put them at the top of the page so they are discussed even if the visit runs short.
Bring observations, not conclusions
Instead of writing “the dementia is suddenly worse,” record what you observed, such as “three nights this week awake from 1–4 a.m.” Concrete observations help the clinician evaluate possible causes.
Before you leave
Confirm medication changes, follow-up timing, referrals, tests and who to contact with questions. Ask which symptoms should prompt a routine message, an urgent call, a same-day evaluation or emergency services.
This page is educational and does not replace individualized medical advice.
Sources: National Institute on Aging: Alzheimer’s caregiving; Alzheimer’s Association: Caregiving.