Information for Caregivers: Working Closely With a Health Care Professional
Working closely with the health care professional to become part of the health care team is an important part of getting the best treatment for the person in your care. Open and honest communication with the health care professional is key to developing this partnership.
Here are some ways for making the most of your conversation with the health care professional:
Introduce yourself as a caregiver. Let him or her know that you are there to help support the health care professional’s recommendations and to be part of the health care team.
Before the appointment, help the person in your care make a list of the things he or she wants to discuss. Prioritize your needs—you may not have enough time to cover everything at 1 office visit. Agree on what each of you will talk about.
Write down your questions before each appointment. Make them specific and brief. Ask your most important questions first. You can ask questions such as: What condition does the person in my care have? What might have caused it? How is it treated? What tests are needed? Your Caregiver’s Organizer has pages for writing down questions. Take these questions with you to the appointment.
Write down notes to help you remember the health care professional’s responses and instructions. You can use the note pages at the back of your Caregiver’s Organizer. This will allow you to go over the information later when you have more time to concentrate or do research. Before you leave the office, review your notes with the health care professional to make sure you both agree on what was discussed. Do not be afraid to ask questions if you do not understand something.
Do not hesitate to discuss your concerns about the health of the person in your care. If you are not comfortable doing this when the person in your care is present, consider calling the health care professional before or after the visit to discuss your concerns. Make sure the health care professional has permission from the person in your care to speak to you.
You and the person in your care have much to gain by communicating clearly with the health care professional—better treatment for the person in your care, less stress for you, and more efficient use of everyone’s time.
Always check with the health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing activity. It's also important to ask him or her about target heart rate to help determine appropriate exercise intensity.
Always check with your health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing your activity. It's also important to ask him or her what your target heart rate is to help determine what exercise intensity is appropriate for you.
Always be sure to check with your health care professional before beginning any activity plan or increasing your activity.
It always helps to ask:
- What activities are right for me?
- How much should I do each day?
- How many days a week?
It's also important to ask him or her what your target heart rate is to help determine what exercise intensity is appropriate for you.
This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.
This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.
This information is provided by an independent source. Merck is not responsible for this content. Please discuss any and all treatment options with your healthcare professional. The manufacturer of a product generally has the most complete information about that product.
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Health Coach Call
Listen to an example of what a call might sound like.
| Play | Nutrition call (7:16) |
| Play | Activity call (7:22) |
Here are some important things to know about your Health Coach Call:
Our Coaches are employed by a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., a pharmaceutical company.
The information provided is based on generally available nutrition and physical activity guidelines and information applicable to most people.
Health Coaches are not licensed dietitians or health and fitness professionals, and they are not in a position to assess your individual nutrition or activity needs.
This information is not appropriate if you are pregnant, and it may not be appropriate if you have specialized dietary needs or limitations on the level of activity or exercise you can safely undertake due to your medical conditions. Consult your health care professional regarding your specific needs, limitations, and health conditions.
Health Coaches can educate and coach you on nutritional and physical activity recommendations for the typical person.
Health Coaches are not health care professionals and cannot offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your health care professional because he or she knows you best.
If you have a chronic health condition, check with your health care professional to find out if physical activity is safe before you start.
If during your call you have concerns about any condition, special dietary needs, limitations on the level of activity or exercise, any treatments, side effects, or adverse experiences, your Health Coach will refer you to your health care professional.
Activity Points Explained
This Planner uses Activity Points as a way to help you stay motivated and focused on your activity goals. Points are assigned to each activity in the Planner. You'll earn more points when you increase the duration of the activity.
For example, when you bicycle for 15 minutes at a moderate pace (12 to 14 mph), you earn 120 Activity Points. To earn the same number of Activity Points while cycling at a very easy pace (less than 10 mph), you would need to bike for 30 minutes.
If you are currently inactive or get very little activity during the week, a good goal to work toward is 500 Activity Points each week. This is equal to 30 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic exercise on 5 days a week.
If you are moderately or highly active (more than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week), you may want to aim for up to 1,000 Activity Points each week. This is equivalent to 1 hour of activity on 5 days a week.
What you'll gain
At 500 Activity Points per week: Once you consistently reach this level (ie, 150 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic activity per week), you may gain substantial health benefits. These benefits include lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
At 1,000 Activity Points per week: When you consistently reach this level (ie, 300 minutes of moderate–intensity aerobic activity per week), you may gain even more health benefits. These benefits include a decreased risk of colon and breast cancer and an even lower risk of heart disease and diabetes.
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