As a young caregiver, it is helpful to break down your caregiving experience into three parts: before, during, and after. Depending on the type of situation such as a medical crisis, some steps and action items, may not be possible. However, try to give yourself grace and flexibility in how you bring these suggestions into your caregiving role.

Before the visit 

• Become familiar with what you’re walking into:
  • Learn more about the organization and the healthcare professionals you may be visiting. 
  • Consider reaching out to someone who may have experience in this area, whether it’s with someone in your life or by calling the caregiver helpline (1-833-416-2273).
• Have 2-3 specific goals for the healthcare interaction if it makes sense within your context. 
  • 1) The course of treatment, e.g., we are hoping to get support for experiences of suicidal ideation
  • 2) The overall quality of care, e.g., we want to ensure the healthcare provider spends enough time with us to thoroughly explain what’s going on.
• Determine what, if anything, should be brought to the appointment with you and the person you are providing care for. These items can include medication, healthcare records, and/or therapeutic activities.

During the visit 

• Confidently introduce yourself as a caregiver upon meeting the healthcare professional, and if possible, have your care recipient endorse that statement. 
• Remain engaged in the conversations. Ask questions about care plans, choices, and outcomes.
  • Some questions to consider include: 
    • Why is the patient experiencing this? What are the harms? Consider also asking the patient if they are comfortable with the current situation.
    • Will it happen again? What are the warning signs that should be kept in mind for yourself and other members of the healthcare team?
    • Can we (i.e., patient, caregiver, and service) prevent it? 
    • How can we (i.e., patient, caregiver, and service) intervene when it happens? 
    • How can we (i.e., patient, caregiver, and service) support the patient after the fact?
• If there is pushback from the healthcare provider, whether about the inclusion of a caregiver, treatment options, etc., consider exploring the following, if you are comfortable. 
  • Be sure to acknowledge the hesitation. Try to engage in a respectful, yet assertive dialogue about the concern and confidently reiterate your position, as well as create space for the patient to share their perspective.  
  • If the conversation is not productive, consider connecting with a senior staff on the healthcare provider team so that a group conversation can occur.
• Before the healthcare provider leaves, take a moment to reiterate and reflect upon the treatment provided. Make sure all parties (i.e., patient, caregiver, and provider) agree and understand the next steps. 
  • Consider approaching it like this:
    • “Thank you for your time today. This interaction was [insert word] because [insert rationale].
    • From my perspective, the agreed-upon next steps are [insert here]. Is this correct?
    • How long does [insert activity here e.g., a medication fax take, a psychiatrist appointment take to book, etc.] and where can we call to check the status of this referral? 

After 

• Debrief with your care recipient; ask them how they feel about the care they have received, the interaction they had, and the agreed-upon next steps. 
• Healthcare visits can be emotionally draining for patients and their caregivers. Everyone involved should take time to care for themselves.
• Ask for more help when needed! There is immense strength in reaching out to others when you need support. This could include people in your life, support lines, therapists, peer support workers, pharmacy staff, etc. 

Do your own research

Nobody will have the time to teach you everything you need to know, and knowledge is power.

• Call the 24/7 caregiver helpline at 1-833-416-2273 (CARE) to speak to a Community Resource Specialist
• Use our live chat to find resources in your community and join the conversation in our online forum
• Search this site for information, resources and support
• Talk to your family doctor or your loved one’s physician, or other health care provider. Bring a list of your questions with you to appointments
• Call 211 or visit www.211.ca for free and confidential information about Canadian health and community services available in your area

Written by Micaela Harley, Young Caregiver