One of your biggest roles is supporting your loved one so they can focus on their health. One way to do that is to organize the vast amount of information that is coming your way. You can help out in keeping all of this information up to date, or you can drive this process. Either way, here are some tools to help the communications with your health care team easier. You can download these worksheets here.

Tips:

• Keep all the worksheets together in one binder for easy reference

• Keep all worksheets up-to-date so you have the information and background you need for each appointment

• Talk with your loved one before each appointment about questions that you both have. Appointments can often be emotional, or rushed, and you want to think about and discuss your questions ahead of time

Worksheets Included:

Selecting Your Health Care Provider Worksheet - Interview and get several opinions before you select your health care teams. While experience is key, they also must be responsive to you and have a strong team in place. Feeling comfortable with your doctor is critical, as the lines of communication must remain open, and you must have confidence in them. This worksheet will help you organize your questions, comments and notes.

Treatment Option Worksheet - Evaluating treatment options can be both emotional and overwhelming. This worksheet is designed to help you break down the information, and compare it, to help you make your treatment decision.

Health Care Team Contact Worksheet - Here is a central place to list all of the names, contact information, and roles for your health care team. This is an important reference tool in enabling your team to talk to one another.

Follow Up Appointment Worksheet - Use this worksheet to track upcoming appointments and note all questions to ask.

Test Tracking Worksheet - Your loved one will be taking a series of tests….this worksheet will help you keep track of all of these tests, the results, and where the records are located.

Medication Worksheet - There are two worksheets. The first is an overview so that everyone can see "at a glance" all medications that the patient is taking. The second worksheet is designed to help track individual medications so that you have a reference for yourself, and your health care team.

Health Journal Worksheet - The Health Journal Worksheet is an important overall tool for tracking how your loved one is feeling. Completed on a regular basis it will help you, your loved one, and the doctor to see any trends, or small symptoms that you might not have noticed otherwise.