DANVERS — North Shore Elder Services wants to give senior citizens the tools to prepare for their most important appointment, the doctor's.
North Shore Elder Services is offering a free training seminar tomorrow and May 20 to teach people how to be more assertive at the doctor's office. Project coordinator Susan Quinn said the training will focus on asking questions, polite persistence and patients' rights.
"You need to be really prepared with questions for your doctor, and you need to be politely persistent until you get that question answered in a way you understand," she said.
Quinn said understanding the medical terminology is extremely important for patients so they can make good, informed health care decisions.
The training session is in conjunction with the At Your Side Program, which allows senior citizens to have a trained volunteer accompany them on doctors' appointments. People who sign up for the program have trouble remembering information or don't fully grasp what their doctor tells them on visits, Quinn said. It's the volunteer's job to take notes in addition to asking questions until the patient does understand.
Dr. Mayo Johnson, a retired surgeon from Beverly Hospital, was one of the first to sign up as a volunteer and will be speaking tomorrow.
"I have one client who was brought to my attention because he was having problems with his medication," he said. "He had two doctors and thought he was getting different information from the two."
Johnson explained his client was a thriving 80-year-old who just needed all of his questions answered in simpler speak. Once Johnson accompanied him on his appointments, a lot was cleared up.
"Between the doctors and nurse practitioners, all of his questions were answered," Johnson said.
The program started 15 months ago when North Shore Elder Services realized how many people in the community didn't understand what their doctors were telling them. The program has 21 volunteers, ranging from retired nurses and doctors to social workers and businesspeople.
Quinn said all of the volunteers have experience in assisting family members or friends at doctors' appointments.
"I think people will walk away feeling empowered and more comfortable talking with their doctors," she said. "It's very empowering to be active in your own health care."
If you go
What: At Your Side Medical Advocacy Program of North Shore Elder Services
When: May 12 and May 20, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: North Shore Elder Services, 152 Sylvan St., Danvers
Fee: Free to the public, but reservations are required. Please call Susan Quinn at 978-750-4540, ext. 227, or e-mail atyourside@nselder.org.
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