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My Mom is 82 in good health. She lost her husband of 54 yrs almost 3 yrs ago and came here to stay with my wife and I. 2 weeks ago she got a bad cough and took her to urgent care, 3 days later took her to the ER. She was given antibodies. She has become very depressed and having anxiety attacks. Crying, stuttering, fatigue, agitated, guilt, she says she feels empty inside, She is on medication. I took her to her primary Dr yesterday and they gave her a referral to see a psychiatrist but I can not find one who accepts Medicare even though she has a supplement insurance too. I need help with this. Thank you Kenneth

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My Mother had depression and anxiety too but she wouldn't take an antidepressant but she did take Ativan,a very small dose of 0.5mg,3 times a day as needed and they really helped her with her anxiety.
I'm sorry she and you are going through this and she is grieving so.Take good care~
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You're in a suburb of Atlanta, yes? If there are any large rehab hospitals/facilities in the area, call all of them and ask for referrals for psychiatry. Yes, make sure they check for a UTI; when you say mom is on medication, what kind of meds are you talking about?
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Have you called Emory Geriatric Psychiatry services? Emory accepts many types of insurance and have a program geared toward anxiety and depression in older people.
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Antidepressants take a MINIMUM of two weeks to kick in. Why on earth did she go off them? Did she do it gradually, under a doctor's supervision. These are meds that cannot be stopped suddenly.
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Kenneth
I think you can find drs in your area online. Google Medicare.com. Follow the links for providers for your mothers location. Also, your mothers supplemental insurance might have a provider number or link. I hope your mother feels better soon.
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Did they check her urine for a UTI by any chance? Sometimes, that can make people behavior in unusual ways. Still, if she does need a psychiatrist, I might call your Dept of Social Services and inquire.
 I read regularly of areas where hardly any doctors accept Medicare nor Medicaid. In NC, both are accepted practically everywhere. Both large medical centers and small offices accept both of them, based on my experience.
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Thanks everyone
Mom is on an anti-depressant and something for anxiety. she talks like she's giving up. She says she doesn't feel like doing anything. She had been off her anxiety medication for more than a year and stopped taking her anti depressant Oct. She started back on her anti-depressant 2 days ago and took her anxiety medication and said she felt much better but today she was feeling the same as before and she did take her medication. Maybe it just needs more time to take effect.
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KLONOPIN, I really genuinely curious why and how your mom discontinued her meds, and if you all knew that she was doing that. It might signal some cognitive decline.
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mom was on a low dosage and her Dr said it was ok but Iam looking for another Dr
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In dementia, there appear to be chemical changes in the brain that either exacerbate or cause depression where none existed before. It is sometimes hard for an elder to accept that they need to continue taking a medication when they are feeling good, but it's important for thise around her to encourage her to do so.

Are you having any luck finding a psychiatrist?
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