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Together · 5 min · For caregivers

Three questions before you leave

What happens next, what should I watch for, and who do I call? Three questions that make the days after an appointment calmer.

5 minutesFrom the library, free to readFour steps
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Appointments often end in a hurry, and the days afterwards can be full of uncertainty: is this normal, should I be worried, who do I ring? Three short questions, asked before you stand up, answer most of that.

The steps

Four small steps,in your own time.

  1. Write the three questions somewhere you will see them: What happens next? What should I watch out for? Who do I contact, and how?

  2. Near the end of the appointment, ask them, even if you think you know the answers.

  3. Write down the answers, including any names and phone numbers, and ask what to do if the problem comes up at night or at the weekend.

  4. At home, put the numbers where everyone in the house can find them: on the fridge, by the phone, or in a shared note.

The reason

Why it helps

Knowing the next step, the warning signs, and the right number takes a lot of guesswork out of the days that follow. It also helps you tell the difference between something that can wait for a call in the morning and something that needs help straight away.

A gentle variation

If the appointment was by phone or video, ask the same three questions. If you forgot to ask, it is fine to ring back, or to send a message through the practice or clinic, and ask them afterwards.

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WE · TRIBE

Try itwith someone.

If other people help with care, share the answers with them the same day, so the person looking after things tomorrow knows what to watch for and who to call.

Make it a plan in HIVELIVE, with WE

Try it today

At your next appointment, ask the three questions before you leave, and write the answers down.

Add it to your day

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