PCPs are the first line of defence for anyone concerned about a medical issue. Typically a PCP will be a DO or an internist. They can diagnose and treat many illnesses from ear infections to organ diseases. They should not treat diseases that they are not specifically trained for. That's why we have specialists. Cardiologists, pulmonologists, and neurologists are a few disciplines trained in a specific medical condition. In addition, dementia is not a disease. It refers to a group of symptoms that are caused by some underlying condition. A PCP may be able to determine that a person has dementia and should perform various tests to eliminate any treatable conditions, e.g., thyroid disease, vitamin deficiency, Lyme disease. Once a PCP identifies a condition he/she is not qualified to treat, the patient is referred to a specialist.
A Neurologist is the person who can identify the cause of dementia and offer treatment. If you have a headache, the cause of the headache must be determined. So to with dementia.
Have you considered that MOM'S cognitive skills may be slipping?
Take mom, separately to the PCP for a complete evaluation of her physical and mental health. If you don't want to voice your concerns in front of mom, type them up and hand to the receptionist when you sign in for the appointment.
Mom is abusing dad. It has to stop.
What a good neurologist or psychiatrist can do is help with meds that might be able to help keep dad at home longer, if he is becoming agitated. He still needs a PCP, preferably a geriatrics specialist to manage his general medical care.
Do you have DPOA for health and finances for them both?
What doesn't mom understand about dad's dementia? Would she watch Teepa Snow videos about the best ways to handle dementia patients?
The fact that she is not "getting" that his behaviors are related to his shrinking cognitive skills leads me to believe that she may not be processing what is being told to her. And her resistance to a new doctor may be part of her whole disordered thinking.
A Neurologist is the person who can identify the cause of dementia and offer treatment. If you have a headache, the cause of the headache must be determined. So to with dementia.
Take mom, separately to the PCP for a complete evaluation of her physical and mental health. If you don't want to voice your concerns in front of mom, type them up and hand to the receptionist when you sign in for the appointment.
Mom is abusing dad. It has to stop.
What a good neurologist or psychiatrist can do is help with meds that might be able to help keep dad at home longer, if he is becoming agitated. He still needs a PCP, preferably a geriatrics specialist to manage his general medical care.
Do you have DPOA for health and finances for them both?
What doesn't mom understand about dad's dementia? Would she watch Teepa Snow videos about the best ways to handle dementia patients?
The fact that she is not "getting" that his behaviors are related to his shrinking cognitive skills leads me to believe that she may not be processing what is being told to her. And her resistance to a new doctor may be part of her whole disordered thinking.