Fancy Words For What You Need to Know

Diagnosis and Prognosis are the two most important things to know when you are providing care. If you know what is making your loved one ill, what to expect, and how quickly to expect it, then you can make good caregiving plans.

"Diagnosis" is the identification and "naming" of a medical condition or disease. Based on signs and symptoms that can be seen and measured, along with the results of any tests, a doctor will attempt to identify an illness or condition. He or she will then design a plan of treatment. At times physicians may disagree about a diagnosis, in which case further observation and testing may be necessary.

Many doctors will say that diagnosis is as much an art as a science, as some conditions are difficult to diagnose with absolute confidence. Some diagnoses will be arrived at only by eliminating all of the other reasonable possibilities. Some may never be confirmed with absolute certainty.

"Prognosis" is the expected progression of the disease or condition, and what degree of recovery can be expected. The prognosis is vital information when you are planning for care. Knowing what to expect permits a caregiver to plan realistically for the future needs of the person who is ill.

For each individual the expected prognosis of a particular condition can be different. A young and physically fit person might be expected to recover from pneumonia with little or no long term effects. A 93 year old person with other significant medical conditions might die from the same illness.

When you are planning for someone's care, you will want to gather the following information about your loved one's prognosis:

•  Is this a temporary or a long-term condition? Temporary conditions such as infections or broken bones can often heal with no long-term effects.

•  If this is a long-term or incurable condition, is it expected to get worse over time? If so, how fast is the usual progression?

•  What physical limitations might the patient develop over time? Should you plan for an eventual decline in physical abilities?

•  What future mental disabilities might accompany the typical progression of this illness? Can the patient be expected to have problems with memory, logic or reasoning?

Understanding a loved one's present care needs and what changes to expect over time will allow you to be prepared. You may want to get certain legal matters in hand sooner rather than later. If physical disabilities may worsen, you might want to make some changes to the home before a mobility crisis. Financial plans may need to be redesigned in light of changed circumstances.

As soon as medical professionals have confirmed a diagnosis and treatment plan to the best of their ability, the best thing you can do regarding long-term care needs is to consult with the appropriate national disease organization. Organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association, the National Parkinson Foundation, or the American Heart Association have members who have lived with their respective diagnoses, sometimes for many years. They will be able to guide you through the day-to-day dilemmas that all caregivers face in a way that physicians cannot. With the possible exception of an extremely rare illness there is a support organization for just about every recognized life-changing diagnosis.