Q. When I go to see my doctor, it seems as if the visit is over before any of my questions are answered. How can I get the most out of my doctor's visit?

A. The problems you mention are not unusual. It may seem as though the appointment is over before you have had a chance to absorb everything that was discussed. It is easy to be overwhelmed by all of the information and even confused by some medical terms used by your doctor.

This can result in you having questions about your prescriptions or your treatment when you get home from an appointment with your doctor. You may have trouble remembering exactly what you have been told to do to maintain or improve your health. Many people -- of all ages -- have these experiences.

However, sometimes it is more of a problem for an older adult, simply because there is more to discuss. Older people often have more chronic conditions, may have impaired hearing and take more medications.

Take a list of questions and a notebook with you to your doctor's appointment. This will help you to remember what you want to ask and you can write down your doctor's recommendations. Consider taking someone with you to your appointment. You can optimize your care when you choose one person to be your "health partner." This person can also hear what the doctor is recommending to you and can ask questions to clarify the recommendations and help you better understand his or her plan of care.

This person can assist you in making appointments and getting you to and from your doctor's office. He or she can provide guidance in the healthcare decision process and can help you make decisions in line with your goals of care.

This person can be your spouse, another family member, or a friend. Choose someone now and talk to him or her about being your health partner. Asking for assistance can help to ensure that you have the best health care outcomes possible in accordance with your personal goals of care.

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