Caring for your child’s health

Learning about their health condition and wellness as much as they are able is the first step in your teen’s journey to adulthood. Below are skills for your teen to learn and tips on how you can help them.

• Learn about any health conditions (diagnoses).

  • Talk to your teen about their health condition.

  • Help them learn about the name of their health condition.

  • Help them learn what it means to have this diagnosis.

  • Answer any questions they have.

• Learning their health history.

  • Help your teen learn about their health history.

  • Help your teen learn about any surgeries or procedures they have had.

  • Have your teen write down their health history or put it in their smart device. Your teen can also check their MyChart (patient portal) information.

• Learn the signs and symptoms of their health condition.

  • Teach your teen about what signs and symptoms to look for if their condition is worsening.

  • Help your teen what to do when they notice those signs and symptoms.

  • Teach you teen to use a notebook and smart device to keep track of changes in their health.

  • Encourage your teen to speak with their health care team about any changes.

• Learning about their medicines.

  • Help your teen learn about their medicines.

  • Help your teen learn the name of their medicines, how much they take, and how often they take them and the reason for taking them.

  • Help them learn about side effects of any medicines they take.

• Learn about specialty medical equipment they use.

  • Help your teen identify their specialty medical equipment, how to use the equipment, and how to explain their needs to the doctor.

As your teen begins to learn about their health condition and medicines, it is also important that they begin to learn how to manage their health as independently as possible. Below are tips to support your teen.

• Talk to their health care team.

  • Help your teen talk directly to their health care team and let them answer any questions the health care team has about their health.

  • Have your teen write down questions and practice asking them.

  • Have your teen practice checking into their next visit.

• Understand their health care rights.

  • When your teen turns 18 years old, they will be an adult and will be responsible for making medical decision on their own.

  • They will also begin to sign their own consents and will need to give the health care teams permission to share information with you.

  • Your teen will be required to sign consents for treatment and decide who they want to share their medical information with and how it can be shred.

  • If your teen is unable to make medical decision for themselves, legal tools for medical decision-making must be in place, if needed.

• Learn the differences between pediatric and adult health care.

  • Talk about what to expect when they transfer from a pediatric doctor to an adult doctor.

• Learn how to refill their medicines.

  • Let them watch and listen as your refill medicines.

  • Let them practice calling the pharmacy with you, as they are able, the next time a refill is needed.

• Know their health care team and their role in caring for your teen’s health condition.

  • Help your teen learn the names of their health care team and how they help care for them.

  • This team could include a primary care doctor, specialists, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, psychologists, or dieticians.

• Learn when and how to contact their health care team.

  • Talk with your teen about when they you should contact their health care team.

  • Help them gather their contact information so that they can reach out if help managing their health is needed.

• Learn how to make a visit.

  • Talk to your teen about making a visit with their doctor office.

  • Have your teen practice calling the clinic or logging on to patient portal the next time they are needing a visit.

• Know when your teen needs to go to emergency room.

  • Talk with your teen about what to do if they need emergency care.

  • Help them locate the nearest emergency room.

  • Talk about who to call if they have an emergency.

• Know how your teen is going to get to and from doctor’s visits.

  • Talk with your teen about transportation to and from doctor’s visits.

  • If you set up transportation, let your teen watch and listen to how you set up transportation.

  • Let them practice setting up transportation with your support the next time transportation needs to be scheduled.

Begin talking to your teen about the importance of wellness behaviors. Below are tips to support your teen manage their wellness behaviors.

• Knowing the reason for following medical advice, including taking medications as prescribed.

  • Knowing the reason for following medical advice, including taking medications as prescribed.

  • Help your teen understand why they must take their medications and the importance of taking them.

• Knowing the medication adherence plan and how to remember to take medicines.

  • Help your teen learn about their medical plan and why it is important to take their medications.

  • Talk to your teen about tips and strategies for staying adherent.

  • Encourage your teen to set alarms on their smart devices to remind them when it’s time to take their medications and avoid missing a dose.

• Learning about the factors or situations that may prevent your teen from adhering to their medical plan.

  • Talk to your teen about factors or situations that could cause them to not adhere to their medical plan.

  • Provide guidance and tips to help them adhere to their medical plan.

• Learning the benefits of a healthy diet (including special dietary needs), exercise and sleep.

  • Talk to your teen about eating healthy, the benefits of exercising daily, and getting enough sleep.

  • Help your teen add these to their daily routines.

• Learning about the risks of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.

  • Talk to your teen about the effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco may have on their health condition.

• Learning when mental health support is needed and how to access services.

  • Talk with your teen about the importance of mental health care and how to access this care as needed.

  • Talk with your teen about how to manage stress, anxiety, and when to ask for help.

• Learning the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and the effects it can have on your teen’s health.

  • Talk with your teen about how STI could affect their health condition and have them talk with their health care team.

• Learning other disease specific wellness behaviors.

  • Talk to your teen about other wellness behaviors that could help them stay healthy.

As your teen becomes a young adult, talk to them about their future for health insurance, school, work, and living situations. Below are tips to help support your young adult as they plan for their future.

• Understand different types of insurance.

  • Talk with your young adult and explain the different types of health insurance.

  • Talk to them about their current insurance and explain how it works.

  • Have your teen carry their insurance card with them.

• Apply or re-apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

  • Talk to your teen about SSI benefits and if they qualify.

  • Around the age of 18, your young adult will need to re-apply for SSI as an adult. Information about re-applying should be received by mail from Social Security Administration.

  • Help your young adult complete and return application.

• Plan for health insurance coverage for the upcoming year.

  • Help your teen understand their current insurance. and learn when coverage will end.

  • Help your teen research options for health insurance for the future.

  • Talk to your teen about next steps needed to have health insurance as their current health insurance ends.

  • Explain what options they have for health insurance.

• Plan for the future.

  • Talk to your teen about their future goals.

  • Talk to them about continuing school at college or going to work. Help them identify next steps.

  • Talk to them about how their health may affect their school or work.

• Identify accommodation needs for school or work.

  • Talk to your teen about what assistance they may need to be successful at school or work.

  • Talk to them about how to get the help they need.

• Identify at least two people to ask for assistance when needed.

  • Help your young adult identify two people who can help them become more independent as they move into adulthood.