My 89-year-old father cannot physically make it the doctor to get his medications refilled. What do I do?

This is one of my pet peeves...docs who tell their aging patients to come into the office when they can very well renew their Rxs by phone. I finally said to Mom's doc one day, "can you see that she has mobility issues and can barely walk??"
I switched my Mom from her first doc because the snarky young woman at the front desk would always tell me "bring her in" for minor ailments. When I said it was difficult for her to walk, she said, "take her to the ER." We are no longer patients at that office.
I think more people need to speak up andand ask their docs to have more empathy for the elderly. If it goes unheard, then switch docs.
It is hard enough to get my Mom to the doc or dentist without having to deal with cold front office staff or money-grubbing doctors getting in the way.

No! You absolutely DO NOT have to be at death's door to use hospice. Simply call your hospice agency, tell them about your dad, his condition, and your concerns. Ask them if they would mind evaluating your dad for hospice. I'm sure they would love to help you. I am speaking from experience. My mom was on hospice for over a year, and they discharged her because she was so stable. But now, she's back on hospice care again because her BP had dropped a lot. Give it a chance. They will tell you if he qualifies for hospice or not.

No, I thought so too. Hospice said that is a misconception. The website for Southwest Ohio Hospice talks about that. I am assuming they are all the same.

Hospice Question. Don't you have to be on deaths door to get hospice involved? I mean have a terminal disease?

Thanks to all of you for your advice and support. Hospice was my first inclination and switching doctors is possible also. I am going to give the doctor the respect of calling him and telling him I am switching and after 25 years I would think he would care more. Thanks so much to all of you - it means a lot.

I recently had this same experience. It was a catch 22 situation.
I didn't know what to do. So, I called my mom's HMO and they have a "dial a ride" that can help. Also her HMO has guerney transportation since she can no longer hold herself upright. then mom's BP got dangeroulsly low, so I called in hospice. I LOVE these hospice folks. Absolute angels.
Anyhow - now, with hospice in place, all mom's medical needs will be taken care of. No more worries about Dr. visits; or transportion to and from anywhere. Mom will have all her medical needs met right where she lives. Plus, hospice provides comfort care without being invasive. And, they evaluate the patient every 3 months. Mom has a LVN come in 2x per week and a CNA 3x per week to assist with her bathing needs. One of the reasons I love hospice is because now mom gets more one-on-one attention. I can rest easy know she is getting the best possible care.

I had the same problem. Nature took care of that. My mom's BP started to plummet, so I called in hospice. Now- I don't have to worry about taking her to see the doc. Hospice will provide comfort care, plus she will receive all of her medical needs from hospice. You might ask your family physician to recommend a hospice care that he has recommended before. Hospice really is great- absolute angels.

My mom is 91, lives with my husband and myself. She is slow, has a walker and I have worried about the same thing, when she can't walk. First we will get a wheel chair.
I think his doctor does not have much empathy. I'd be looking for another doctor. I would think an ambulance would be too expensive. Sounds like a greedy doctor to me. Can you call an aging council or check into medicare. I'd like to hear the answer too.

I would tell the doc he can no longer come into the office he is being seen by a nurse and that should be enough you may have to change docs he just seems to want to be paid for an office visit ask if you can pay hin privately for an office vist or have an NP take over one who might be convince to come to his home plus lot of elderly pt. get sick going into doc offices my MOM who is 91 always gets sick going to the office. Other wise you will have to take him in by ambulance which will beexpensive unless your vol fire dept would do it for you or have him admitted to a nursing home I would try changing docs this is ridiciouse to me if he has been on the same meds some docs need their heads examined-tell him you are thinking of reporting him to your Board of health,

Recently I was at the doctors office and a patient was rolled into the office on a stretcher that had been brought by ambulance. This person was going TO the doctors, NOT coming from. Maybe that's an option, being brought by ambulance.