INTRODUCTION

Sometimes it can seem like health professionals 

speak a different language. When we feel worried 

about a loved one’s health condition, it can be hard 

to keep up with everything being said by a doctor 

or nurse. It’s important to communicate clearly 

with health professionals. Good communication 

helps you be a more effective caregiver, leads to 

better care, helps family members feel like part of 

the healthcare team, and helps clear up confusion 

quickly. 

FOUR KEYS TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

We can all improve our communication skills. 

Researchers have found four key ways that we can 

strengthen communication in healthcare:

1. Be fully present

• Before entering the health setting, take a 

moment to calm your mind. Breathe deeply. 

• Make eye contact. 

• Focus on the present moment – don’t worry 

about yesterday or tomorrow. 

• Set a positive tone. 

• Maintain a strong sense of yourself.

2. Participate 

• Be prepared. 

• Clearly state your purpose. 

• Offer information about your loved one’s 

condition. 

• Ask questions. 

• Assert yourself. When you assert yourself you 

ask questions, clearly state what you want, 

offer compromises, and set limits about what is 

acceptable in a care plan.

3. Build understanding 

• Really listen – with your full attention.

• If you hear something you don’t understand, 

ask the health professional to clarify the point.

• Show that you understand what someone is 

saying by repeating it back in your own words.

• Avoid assumptions. Don’t jump to 

conclusions. Allow others to finish speaking. 

• State difficulties and concerns. Ask for help in 

understanding the reasons for treatment choices 

and recommendations.

4. Encourage working together

• Focus on goals that you, your loved one, and 

the health professional can agree upon.

• Be clear about who is responsible for what and 

get extra help with certain tasks, if needed.

• Speak openly and honestly.

• Help with problem solving. Share information 

that you have that can help the health team 

make good decisions about care.

• Express appreciation. Saying “thank you” to 

health professionals who gave you help means 

more than you can imagine.

Communicating Better with Health Professionals
FAMILY CAREGIVERS AS TEAM MEMBERS

The role of the family caregiver is to serve as an 

effective member of the healthcare team, along 

with the patient, doctor, nurse, social worker, 

therapists, and other team members. Your goal is to 

help your loved one navigate the healthcare system 

and get the best quality care possible. Here is a list 

of key activities for you as a team member:

• Set up a file with detailed records of important 

medical information.

• Go to appointments with your loved one and 

speak up for him or her, as needed. 

• Write down notes during appointments.

• Ask questions about anything that is not clear 

or sounds complicated. 

• If you disagree or have a concern, speak up. 

• Ask others to listen to your loved one’s 

concerns in his or her own words. 

• Provide progress reports to health 

professionals. 

• If your loved one’s needs are not being met by 

his or her team of health professionals, find a 

new team.

HOW TO SUPPORT TREATMENT PLANS

• Make sure your loved one follows medical 

instructions. If you have any questions or 

doubts about what is to be done, call and ask.

• Come prepared. Bring complete information 

about your loved one’s current symptoms, 

condition, medication, and therapies.

• Be a good reality check. Help your loved one 

not to exaggerate, dramatize, or under-report 

symptoms.

• Reach out for help if something changes. 

Don’t attempt to play doctor yourself.

• Tell the doctor when you seek a second 

opinion. It’s okay. Health professionals are 

used to this and usually find a second opinion 

to be helpful.

• Educate yourself about the particular disorder 

your loved one has. Share what you learn with 

health professionals. They won’t always have 

all the answers or know the latest research 

about a particular disorder.

RESPECT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS’ LIMITS

• Be respectful of health professionals’ time and 

emotional limits.

• Be patient; most health care offices are busy 

and see many patients every day.

• Learn the office routine – including the best 

time to call with medical questions, how to 

make appointments, and the name of the person 

who handles billing information.

Information provided in this fact sheet was adapted 

from materials submitted by the National Family 

Caregivers Association, Kensington, MD. For 

more information, visit their website at

http://www.nfcacares.org.

For more information about ACL 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

Administration for Community Living, 

Washington DC 20201 

Phone: (202) 619 – 0724 

Fax: (202) 357 – 3555 

Email: ACLinfo@acl.hhs.gov

Web: http://www.aoa.gov