I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT'S WRONG DOC, BUT HERE, LOOK AT MY PHONE

Trying to describe our son Nick's seizures to his neurologist was really difficult until we realized we could film them and use our appointment time to watch the real thing. Nothing captures what really happens during a seizure like recording the event on video. The same goes for unusual or difficult episodes of behaviour in someone with dementia or mental illness. Showing a medical professional what is happening at home with your loved one puts him or her right there in the room as a witness to the event. A professional will diagnose and prescribe more accurately if they know exactly what they're treating.

If you're not sure how to set up for filming a behaviour or seizure, check out this article for some great tips. A moving picture is worth a thousand words.

Using a camera to take photos of skin rashes or bruising is a great way to track recovery and work with a treatment team to get the best results. After all, everyone is looking at the same photo and no one is trying to imagine based on one person's memory. Daily pictures of an infection site can help you determine if a wound is healing or getting worse, too.

Images of skin abrasions or films of concerning behaviours can be shared with the care team so that everyone responds in the same way, according to an agreed treatment plan.

Phones can be a really helpful tool to bridge what's happening at home to the clinic or doctor's office.