Helping With an Appointment
Ask what help the person wants before arranging it. You can offer a limited, useful task such as a ride, company in the waiting room, or help remembering a question.
For: Adult family members, partners and other supporters · 2 PDF pages
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SAMHSA recommends listening, asking how support would help and agreeing on follow-up. In treatment, family involvement can reflect the wishes of the person receiving care.
Original example: helping while leaving choices with the person
| Moment | A useful offer |
|---|---|
| Before the visit | Would you like a ride, someone to wait with you, or help making a question list? |
| At the appointment | Would you like me to come in, or wait outside? |
| During the conversation, if invited | You asked me to help remember the cost question. Would you like to ask it now? |
| Afterward | Is there any follow-up you would like help with? I can make time on Thursday. |
Agree on the task first
- Confirm the date, pickup or meeting place, and the time you are both allowing.
- Ask whether they want you present, speaking or taking notes; do not treat one permission as permission for all three.
- Ask before contacting the provider on their behalf; the provider may need its own permission process.
- Agree where any notes belong and what should stay private.
- Say when you are unavailable so a backup can be arranged.
Our practical agreement
- What help was requested
- The task, what I can offer, and anything they do not want me to do.
- Visit and travel details they want me to know
- Date/time/place; confirmed arrangements; backup contact.
- Question or follow-up they want supported
- Their priority, my agreed role, and the next contact/time.