How do you encourage a person with dementia to go to the doctor?

It's really hard, past the early stages of dementia, to use logic or reasoning.

What worked with my mom (when she needed to do something, not just doctor's appointments) was "now it's time to XYZ".

Not "do you want to", or "tomorrow we will...".

Consider taking her to lunch and then "stopping by" the doctor. Or some other activity she enjoys, and the just pop in to the doctor, as though it's an afterthought.

Having home visits from a Physician or Nurse Practitioner is pure gold, if it’s available in her area. Often the local Area Agency on Aging has a list.

It's depending on their level of dementia and how much they can still comprehend logics.

I used to tell my mom that she needed to see her doc so that she could continue to get her medication. That worked for a short while until she said she didn't need any med and that she felt fine.

Then came COVID lock down, we did telehealth.

Eventually, I found a doctor who made house calls because by this time my mom could no longer cooperate in anything in a new environment and especially with strangers. At home, she was more cooperative and allowed the doc and nurses to take bp and did tests.

Good luck to you.

Tell them that in order to keep Medicare or their insurance, they need to go for a wellness visit.