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?

<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.

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.

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.

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.

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?


My family is experiencing this situation right now. The doctor and nurses have given up on my mother but she keeps holding on. She does good when a different set of nurses are on duty. When the relief crew comes it is the end of the world. It's never good news when they are there. It's always extra critical in ICU. She responds to us and the other nursing staff. The relief crew say things like she had a good life, she's tired she should be told that it is ok if she wants to be with GOD. I looked at the lady, wanted to curse her from head to toe, just smiled and told her it is GOD's will not man.
When he gets ready for her he will call her home. Right now she need to be treated just like any other patient with the proper medication. I wish I knew what direction to go with trying to get a second opinion for her condition. She has seizures, had seven that we know of in one day and they induced a deep sleep for less brain activity to prevent more seizures at the time. She has been sleeping and resting. All her vital signs are stable. How can we get a second opinion without creating a major for my mother from the nurses who could mistreat her like withholding her medication or something...

As long as a person is alive, regardless of age, they need proper medical care.

My mother-in-law had a major heart attack and doctors could do no more for her. The doctor told me to bring her into the office for a checkup in 6-weeks.

I took my m-i-l via ambulance to the doctor's office and when the doctor saw them rolling her in you should have seen the expression on his face. He did not expect her to be alive much less come in to see him.

With proper loving care at home she was able to get off of oxygen, walk around with a cane. She even fell and broke her hip, had surgery, walked again with a walker.

She lived 4 years after the heart attack (1 year in an independent living place, before a major stroke) and went home to see the Lord when He was ready for her.

Well I know one clinic of family Doctors who won't take on any new medicare patients.

Apparently they think they're among the chosen few that are entitled to better income than they can get from treating medicare patients who are the bulk of the elderly.

Greed was written all over their faces when they turned away my 91 year old mother.