Managing appointments, treatments and medications as a carer

Carers often organise appointments and treatments for the person they care for and help with medicines. As a carer, it may be your responsibility to manage the person’s medical appointments. This can include making the appointment, arranging transport and sitting with them when they meet a healthcare professional.

Making and managing appointments#

When you make an appointment for the person you care for, let the receptionist know whether you need to be seen quickly or whether it can wait until later in the week. If you are worried about a long wait, ask for one of the first appointments of the day.

Also let them know if the person:

• has any special needs, such as wheelchair access
• would like an interpreter, which usually needs to be arranged ahead of time
• specifically wants to see either a male or female doctor

If the appointment is for tests, ask how to prepare the person. They may have to fast (not eat or drink) before a blood test, for example. You may also need to book a follow-up appointment to discuss the results.

If you are arranging appointments with several healthcare professionals, tell each one about the others. That way, and with the person’s permission, they can share information and treatment recommendations.

To keep track, it helps to record all appointments in a single notebook or diary. A calendar app on your phone is another good option.

Medical treatment plans#

As a carer, it may be up to you to help the person put their treatment plan into action. A treatment plan written by a healthcare professional guides the person toward recovery, or helps reduce their symptoms so they can live as well as possible.

Treatment plans are tailored to the person and may change based on:

• what the problem is
• how unwell they are
• how much support the person has
• treatment results – stopping treatments that are not working and increasing those that are

For each health problem, the plan should clearly set out:

• the goals of treatment, both short- and long-term
• how those goals will be achieved
• the type of treatment (for example, group versus individual counselling)
• how often treatment will be needed
• who is responsible for the treatment
• when and how the person’s progress will be reviewed

The plan should also prioritise between problems that need immediate attention and those that are less urgent. If you or the person you care for ever feels that the treatment plan is not working, contact their doctor or the healthcare professional who wrote it to discuss other options.

Taking medicines safely#

Some people take a range of medicines, including prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines, to treat different conditions. Medicines can make a significant difference to a person’s life: they can prevent and treat disease, increase life expectancy and improve quality of life. But if they are not used correctly, they can also harm health. Here are some tips for managing medicines.

Read the consumer medicine information#

Most prescription and many over-the-counter medicines come with a consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet, available from your doctor or pharmacist. It is a good starting point for learning more about a medicine.

Ask questions#

If you are unsure about anything to do with the person’s medicine, double-check with their doctor or pharmacist. You can also ask the pharmacist to review all the medicines to make sure they are still the right ones to be taking.

Tell healthcare professionals about all medicines#

All medicines can cause unwanted side effects and can be dangerous when combined with certain other treatments. Let every healthcare professional know about all the medicines the person is taking, including complementary medicines.

Plan the medicines#

Know how much medicine the person has left, so you have plenty of time to refill prescriptions and they never run out.

Keep a list of medicines#

Keep a list of all the person’s medicines, including the dose and instructions for use. Keeping the list on your phone means you will always have it with you.

Use a dose administration aid#

Ask the pharmacist to fill a dose administration aid (often called a dosette box) for each day of the week.

Do not share medicines#

Taking medicine meant for someone else can be very dangerous. Do not give the person someone else’s medicines, or give their medicines to anyone else.

Dispose of out-of-date medicines#

Never give the person expired medicine. Check the date on the packet or container, and either dispose of old medicines safely or return them to a pharmacy.

Key points#

• Carers often organise appointments and treatments for the person they care for and help with medicines.
• With the person’s permission, healthcare professionals can share information and treatment recommendations with each other.
• Treatment plans are tailored to the person and may change based on their needs and how much support they have.
• The treatment plan outlines how each health problem will be managed.
• For each health problem, the plan should set out the goals of treatment and how they will be achieved.

Where to get help#