Doctor-Patient-Caregiver: (Finally) Three's Company for Family Caregivers
We blog about the "sandwich generation" phenomenon and the growing prevalence of adult children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews taking on the responsibility of caring for their aging loved ones. And as the first group of baby boomers turns 65 in 2011, this phenomenon will undoubtedly continue to grow at staggering rates. So much, in fact, that many speculate that the country is not prepared for the increased need for accessible living and quality care.
So often, you hear about patient-centered care, but the inexperience of many family caregivers coupled with the challenges they face (and will continue to face) adds a new dynamic to the traditional doctor-patient model of care. Dr. Arthur Kleinman, a professor of medical anthropology and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and now a family caregiver himself, describes this very thing in a recent NY Times column: "We've had outstanding diagnoses and very careful attention to defining the problem. But once the problem is defined and the limited pharmacological interventions prescribed, there has been neither interest nor knowledge about the rest of the aftercare, even in the most simple parts like finding a home health aide or getting a needs assessment by a social worker."
This month, the American College of Physicians, the country's leading professional organization of internal medicine physicians, issued its first position paper on working with caregivers. Endorsed by almost a dozen other professional medical organizations, the paper, published in The Journal of General Internal Medicine, highlights the challenges that can arise from the complex interaction among patient, doctor and caregiver and offers guidelines for providing the best care. Long overdue, this new three dimensional view of caregiving poses to extend a helping hand to caregivers while bringing patient care full circle.
Are you a caregiver, whether by trade or for a family member? What is your take on this new doctor-patient-caregiver care model? Weigh in now!