What type of doctor do you use?

angela55, I want you to ignore advice from friends and follow up with mom's MD as instructed in her discharge papers.

Hospice is not appropriate unless someone is in the final stage of their disease. They do not "coordinate treatment" with other doctors. Their focus is on comfort care and pain management and helping the family understand what is going on. Hospice is absolutely a godsend when it is appropriate but there is no indication it is needed here.

I suggest starting with a geriatrician, for PCP. He or she can refer to specialists, such as a neurologist, if that is called for.

Many people will use a geriatric doctor for their elderly parents. My parents had one for decades.

Recently I switched my Dad over to the urgent care doctor who's office is less than a mile from the house, who also takes in regular patients, and he's not a geriatric doctor.... I like the fact that I can take Dad over to the doctor any time without an appointment.

It all depends on who you feel comfortable with and who understands elders. The urgent care doctor my Dad has is no nonsense when it comes to my Dad like telling him do NOT go outside to shovel [Dad is 94].

My mom was admitted for congestive heart failure and edema. She definitely was forgetting a lot before the hospital but has since regressed significantly. I know this happens a lot after a hospital stay.

Angela, what Pam said. Get her to her doctor for followup.
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Jeanne is correct. I did not mean that hospice would coordinate with other doctors.

You need to get her overall health evaluated. If you've been pleased with her regular pcp, take her back to her/him and ask for a comprehensive physical a review of her mental status and medications. You might want to call the doctor's office beforehand and ask if they are willing to do this; and for them to set aside time, both for the exam and to discuss the results with you.

Bring up the question of whether hospice is appropriate; some doctors are afraid to broach this topic.

I'm hoping you already have a HIPAA release so that information can be shared freely with you.

My experience with my elderly mother, with chf, pleural effusions, stroke and dementia, is that less is more. TED hose and elevating her feet work on the edema; we try to avoid diuretics because they mess with her electrolytes. She gets scheduled pain meds, not "on request" because she always answers "no" to are you in pain, but weeps that "it hurts" 5 minutes later. She is on antidepressants and antianxiety meds because they allow her to be calm and out of psychic pain. She is on minimal doses so that she is not drowzy.

Lastly, I will fight to keep her out of the hospital from here on in. She has a fatal disease called dementia, and hospitalization only makes that worse. There's nothing that her nh hasn't been able to treat, so far.

And do look into medical transport, they are a godsend.

Angela, can you say a bit more about why your mom was in the hospital? Was she discharged to rehab?

Judging from the collection of docs you've been recommended to, I'd say your mom has had something serious happen, like a stroke or broken hip and she possible developed dementia?

I think I'd start with a good geriatrics doc, although it's got to be someone relatively easy to get to. Use medical transport sometimes called an ambulette. If she's eligible for hospice, they can coordinate her care.

My father regularly sees an ophthalmologist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, podiatrist, dentist and orthopedist when there are bone or muscle issues. ENT work is done through the VA. He used to see a neurologist but no longer has need to.

He's seen 4 PCPs, two of whom were not the least bit thorough and only treated for whatever my father's condition was at the time. They didn't do anything voluntarily, such as blood work or routine screening.

Two others, one a PCP and the other an internist, started off being thorough, although both saw medications or preparations other than natural remedies as the first line of treatment. Dad's cardiologist does not; in fact he won't even prescribe pain meds. He's the kind of doctor we want.

I've decided the next PCP will be a geriatric specialist; I'm tired of doctors who don't understand the differing needs of seniors. I'm even going to find a geriatrist for myself; I too am tired of even female doctors who don't understand the needs of older women.

Angela, for CHF, I would see a cardiologist. A geriatric doctor would be a good choice as well, for issues that aren't cardiac related.

I'm wondering who recommended hospice; has your mother been given a terminal diagnosis and if so, is it because of the CHF?

A friend suggested trying to get her into hospice because her dementia is so bad it's difficult to get her yo a doctor. They will come and treat her at home. I just need a doctor who can hopefully control her mood swings.

Does she have a UTI? Prove it.