Caregiver Upset by Lack of Clarification Regarding Medical Terms

Dear Carol: I’m frustrated with medical people who think family caregivers should automatically understand their abbreviated terms. At appointments, my mom’s doctor asks about IADLs and ADLs when trying to assess her cognitive decline, and he says these can determine what care she qualifies for. I know these terms involve the person’s ability to care for themselves, but I get confused about what is what. When I ask for more clarity, he just gives me another vague explanation and moves on. Could you explain these terms more clearly so I can accurately report how she’s doing? Thank you. – KJ

Dear KJ: Unfortunately, what you’re experiencing is the common failure to understand that patients and their care partners don’t automatically come from a medical background. No matter how busy an office is, the right approach is to start at the beginning with explanations and offer compassionate, non-patronizing education….

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