Caregivers provide non-medical assistance and are not licensed to answer questions relating to medical issues. For questions about someone's health ask the person's doctor.
Questions about following a special diet, doing prescribed exercises, using special positions to sit or rest comfortably, using a walker, and so on, need to be answered by medical professionals.
It can be difficult to describe conditions over the phone and it is best to take the person to the doctor, or, if the situation has any chance of being urgent, take the person to the emergency room.
If the visiting nurses are scheduled you can call them between visits to clarify directions for the person's daily assistance or ask medical questions.
A physical therapist may leave directions for exercises, special positions for sitting or lying down, or directions about using a walker. If you have questions you can all the therapist or leave a message asking for a call back at the therapist's agency.
If the person you are assisting shows signs of any new health problems or of any changes notify the family or guardians and get medical help.
Depending on the situation the caregiver may need to call the doctor's office or the visiting nurses' office with a question, make a doctor's appointment for sometime in the near future, drive the person to the emergency room, or call 911 for an ambulance.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
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