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valsanderson Asked November 2010

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

I phoned the doctor and told him this and asked if I should get hospice or an in home nurse to assess his condition. He reluctantly agreed and an RN has been coming 2-3 times a week. She does the same things he does when he visits him. He is diabetic, has prostate cancer, and vascular dementia. It is all my 86 year old mother and I can do to get him out of bed, eat, take his insulin and daily actiivities. The nurse is communicating with the docotr's office now, and he recently refilled a prescription for dementia but said he needed to see him in 30 days. He takes Prinzide and Atenolol for high blood pressure, Simivastatin for cholesterol, insulin, Avodart, and Namenda. For legal concerns, we live in Ohio. What does a doctor want you do do when you are not physically able to make a visit. He has been going to him for the past 25 years and always kept his appointments until now. What do I do?

toadballet1 Nov 2010
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.

caregiver63 Nov 2010
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.

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valsanderson Nov 2010
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.

Here4her Nov 2010
Hospice Question. Don't you have to be on deaths door to get hospice involved? I mean have a terminal disease?

valsanderson Nov 2010
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.

caregiver63 Nov 2010
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.

caregiver63 Nov 2010
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.

Here4her Nov 2010
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.

195Austin Nov 2010
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,

NancyH Nov 2010
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.

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