Doctors don't want to treat elderly - Aging Issues Message Board

wes55 · 03-28-2008, 02:27 PM

My Dad is 94 and suffering a string of UTI's and pneumonias over the last 12 months and I have had to argue strenously with his new physician to render treatment. My sense is that his doctors (new because his long-time Doc retired) would prefer to just push him over the cliff instead of providing treatment because they view him as "having had a good long life already". Is this typical of a widespread predisposition on the part of medical community about elderly patients or am I just being unrealistic about my father's situation?

tigerlilyx61 · 03-28-2008, 06:01 PM

<I know of> a nursing home and anytime a resident has a UTI or pneumonia it is treated immediately. I have however, seen supervisors and doctors chalk up behaviors that often manifest from UTI's as dementia. My advice is to be your fathers strongest advocate (which I'm sure you are). You know him better than anyone and he deserves to be treated. You can do this in a nice way. Just be persistent but caring when dealing with the doc and always approach it from a concern for your fathers well-being. Good luck.

wes55 · 03-28-2008, 06:11 PM

Thank you TigerLilly. The only symptom he ever manifests is hallucination and the response from the professionals is always to point to "the possibility" of vascular dementia despite the fact that scans of his head show no changes in more than four years. After my insistence on pursuiing a course of anitbotics, the hallucinations resolve.

Mora · 03-28-2008, 09:45 PM

Unfortunately, it happens. My grandmother had a lot of shoulder pain. Took her to the ortho. He took x-rays and then a ct. She had a rotator cuff tear. He said she would be better off not having it repaired because even with therapy she my not end up being without pain. She felt like he didn't want to work on her because she was old!
She got a 2nd opinion with a Dr. in the same practice and he said absolutely she could greatly benefit from the surgery. She did and was very happy she did not take the word of the first Dr. as law. The pain was impacting her life daily...should was in pain when dressing, doing chores...and picking up the great grand children. Go for another opinion and a third if it makes you more comfortable.

ibake&pray · 04-02-2008, 01:17 PM

UTIs are especially common with older folk who don't drink enough to keep this at bay. Push fluids and always have a glass of water by his side. And I would admonish that doctor for his attitude toward your dad. He should be so lucky as to live that long! I lost both of my folks last year at 88, but not because of callous concern of doctors. My parents doctors respected the elderly and were oh so good to my folks.

But make sure that you are the best advocate that you can be because you are all that your dad has. I was the biggest <advocate> that was ever seen to ride a broom when it came to my parents care because I was all that they had.