How to get more at your medical appointments: WWOAS

WELLINGTON COUNTY — The Waterloo Wellington Older Adult Strategy (WWOAS) community member network has been busy developing a special workshop: to teach older adults techniques to improve conversation and outcomes at their health appointments.

Older adults with experience in the health system from across the Region sit on this committee to advise on (WWOAS) strategy.

They’ve worked hard to suggest improvements to the system, but changes may be slower than desired.

This year, members themselves ran a project to empower older adults to achieve better care more quickly.

The Community Members Network participated in and conducted focus groups with older adults and healthcare providers.

They discovered the common obstacles that older adults face when making doctor’s appointments.

Participants commented that the system was “complicated, resources unfairly allocated and support lacking”.

By working with the fixed dialectic, they learned how a few simple techniques can change healthcare conversations for the better.

That by asking specific questions, they could actually slow down the conversation, gain clarity, and better guide the healthcare provider to meet their needs. From this, they jointly developed an interactive workshop that they were to share throughout the region.

In the focus groups, older adults said, “It’s difficult to access healthcare resources when the system is already strained,” and “It’s hard to admit that I need more help.”

However, healthcare providers stated that by absorbing resources now, they can avoid future and more complex problems, which is better for the older adult and the system.

Therefore, the workshop presents the ACTIVE strategy. ACTIVE is about putting needs first and recognizing that older adults are valued individuals who deserve quality care.

ACTIVE means the following:

1) adopt an attitude of self-esteem;

2) submit applications;

3) Center your needs;

4) take up time, space and resources;

5) identify your rights;

6) Upgrade your support system; and

7) Expect challenges.

The SPEAK strategies teach older adults how to speak in a way that will produce results in a medical setting. This contains:

1) start at home is all about preparing for an appointment;

2) Current inquiries are about getting the accommodation you need;

3) Explain the problem and teach techniques for telling your story and emphasizing your needs in a way that medical providers respond to.

4) ask for understanding prompts questions that slow conversations and increase understanding; and

5) Keep asking is all about what to do after the appointment, including follow up with healthcare providers and things the older adult can do.

Any group of older adults can book the workshop free of charge until December 30th.

A number of workshops involving older adults, their families and carers have been successfully conducted across the region.

As one participant said: “Wow – was she ever a great speaker – she really spoke to the seniors and had a lot of great points of value. And I really felt part of the program.”

In addition, organizations can send a representative for free training to deliver the workshop themselves, which the Seniors Center for Excellence has done along with several other organizations.

For more information about the workshop or the Community Members Network, contact Christine Platt [email protected] who says, “Members really want older adults to have easy access to this workshop and the upcoming appointment and medical tools Profiles have older adults.”

It is her passion to improve the lives of seniors in this region.”