Elders who wait until it's too late to seek medical attention...

Ahmijoy: Did you know that because your husband has both CHF & A-Fib that he is at a greater risk of having a stroke? I do not mean to alarm you, but this is exactly what happened to my late mother! Look it up. It's true.

Ll, you’re right. My husband definitely subscribes to the theory of “ignore it and it will go away”. Always has. I have to get really obnoxious about testing and things like that.

The people from Visiting Physicians do what they can, I believe. Our home is not a doctor’s office, after all, and although they’ve done blood tests and x-rays, this guy has a lot of issues. I’d like to think that if his condition worsened, they would absolutely admit him.

Ahmijoy: Moral of your story is that ignorance is not always bliss. If one is not happy with an NP, seek other help.

freqflyer: Wow! Thank you for your story. A head bump is ALWAYS a medical emergency, but our elderly parents may and DO dismiss it. Thank goodness you got there and called 9-1-1.

Golden: Thank you. A good physician is hard to find, but one must advocate for themself.

Countrymouse: I shouldn't have even used a particular day. Morseo, my point was quite concerning in this particular case because the elderly patients there were faced with the worst kind of medical emergency, so horrific I will not give it words.

I can't see how the specialist's office's failure to come up with a working appointments system is the fault of hesitant elders. If they know this is a pattern, why haven't they adapted their allocations accordingly?

My mother generally picked the small hours of Sunday mornings for her more dramatic medical events. Thereby guaranteeing that ER, imaging, admissions and nursing care were at their sparsest and most overstretched. Sigh.

I guess I could be counted among them myself. So far is has worked for me. For years I had an annual check up. As they weren't productive in that I didn't have any problems other than ones i had addressed during the year, I slacked off and recently went about 5 years without a check up for one reason or another. as I had no unusual complaints. Last year I had a check up and I found out nothing much had changed except take some calcium supplements. OK . Now I am aiming for a check up every 2 years. I go for prescription refills (thyroid meds and FM meds) but usually that is all I need, I work to keep myself healthy and take some supplements. I have a BP machine at home and use that periodically. I only have a family physician and a decent one is hard to find where I live.

Llamalover47, you are so very right when it comes to elder wellness and waiting if something needs medial attention.

I remember back when my Dad had fallen in the driveway while walking down to get the mail. He had fallen backward. A neighbor saw this happen and helped Dad back to the house telling my Mom that he better see a doctor. In Mom's world, she thought an ice bag on the head bump and a good lunch would make Dad feel better... [sigh].

Later in the day I heard about the fall, and the goose egg size bump, I was going to take Dad to the local urgent care but Dad was too wobbly to walk.... so I called 911. Thankfully no harm done, and Dad was home the next day. But what if it was a serious bump??? Can't take chances.

But I can fully understand how a senior can turn into a 3 year old when it comes to going to the doctor.

I completely and totally agree. I’ve mentiined here that my husband has Congestive Heart Failure. He’s had a cough since spring that has gotten progressively worse. He refused to let me call the doctor until I finally took it upon myself last week to call, with him cursing and and G.D.-ing me in the background. And to tell the truth, even though I felt and still feel he should be hospitalized, the Nurse Practitioner pretty much did nothing.

I’m certain that my husband is representative of Seniors everywhere. “Ignore it and it will go away.” Truth is, he has a bad heart. An infection 5 years ago damn near killed him. He has fluid around his heart and atrial fibrillation. Sometimes I just want to smack him and say “For God’s sake, wake up!” But truthfully, I count my lucky stars every morning when he actually does. .