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oldestof3 Asked September 2015

Why don't doctors realize how difficult it is to get a dementia patient (93) into the office?

Mom injured her leg and we saw the doctor on Mon. I have 5 steps down into the garage and I managed to get her down and into the car. We waited 2 hrs in the waiting room before being put into a treatment room and waiting another 15 min. I had a horrible time getting her back home and ended up calling a neighbor to help me get her up on her feet and into the w/c. The very next day I called the dr office asking if he would write a Rx for a pain pill and let me pick it up the next day. Her leg was very painful. His answer....I need to see her! I meant to ask for something for pain while we were in the office but got distracted. When I got his response of' I need to see her' I lost my temper/patience and told the office to forget I even called! Luckily, the office called back in about 30 min. and told me I could pick up the Rx. I just can't get over how simple some (medical) people think taking care of a 93 yr old dementia patient is! I guess this is a question and my whine moment! So very tired. P.S. the w/c ramp gets installed tomorrow.....whew...

MaggieMarshall Sep 2015
I so understand. My explosive moment came when a nurse tried to insist that my poor 88-year-old mom navigate from her wheelchair onto an opthamologist's chair. Even with mom's walker and me it was an accident waiting to happen.

The nurse said, "Welll, if you expect the doctor to examine your mom today, you'll have to find a way." I said, "Get away from the door. Mom and I are leaving."

Funny how suddenly the doctor was able to examine her after all. Some nurses are, um, (use your imagination).

Windyridge Sep 2015
My Mom is 83, lots of health problems, minimum 4 trips to doc per month. Not to mention dentist, blood work, hair appts and on and on. It's all a huge pain. She Ned's to be in assited living were all the stuff is on site. But can't force her until it gets so bad at home there's no choice.

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pamstegma Sep 2015
Get a small notebook and write down questions for the doctor. Take it with you because we all forget things in the office.

cwillie Sep 2015
That's one of the most frustrating things about my decision to keep mom at home rather than have her in a nursing home.There she would have access to a doctor weekly, RN's every day, dental and hearing check-ups as needed. I am lucky we do have a doctor that makes house calls, but that has only been a few times a year so a lot gets missed. Today I'm frustrated because either her hearing aids are malfunctioning again or she has a wax build up, so simple but such a huge issue for someone who seldom leaves the house.

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