It can be difficult to get a patient to go to a doctor under any circumstances, and it can be particularly difficult to get him or her to go if he or she suspects Alzheimer's disease. However, it's extremely important that both you and the patient find out if he or she does or does not have Alzheimer's disease. There are many treatable conditions that have symptoms similar to Alzheimer's that are not Alzheimer's.

Click here to learn more about other conditions.

If you find that the patient does have Alzheimer's the earlier he or she is diagnosed the better chance he or she has of benefiting from treatment.

Have the Caregiver go as a patient

Tell the patient you need to go to the doctor. Ask if he or she will come along. The caregiver could get her blood pressure checked, etc. by a nurse. This may make the person feel more at ease about going. At the same time, the physician may evaluate the patient.

Ask the patient's physician to call them to schedule an appointment

Frequently, the doctor's office will work with the caregiver to get the patient evaluated. The office may call and ask the patient to schedule an appointment because he hasn't been in for some time. Often, the person will schedule with the doctor's encouragement. You may want to make sure that the physician you select is experienced in diagnosing and treating dementia. Click here to get a list of Diagnostic Centers in the New York City Area. If you need a referral for a geriatric physician, please call the New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at 212 983-0700 to get a name.

Get the doctor or pharmacist involved

The patient may be told that an evaluation or trip to the doctor may be required to continue a current prescription. This should persuade the patient to schedule the appointment they need.

Call ahead and explain your concerns

Many individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer's behave well in short social situations, making it difficult for a doctor to pick up on problems without some warning from the caregiver. Call ahead and give a description of the patient's behavior

As a last resort...

If you are still struggling to get the patient to the doctor, give yourself permission to alter the truth. We were told of a caregiver that wrote the patient a letter resembling that of the insurance company, stating that the person was due for a physical. Keep in mind; it is for the patient's health and well being that they must see a physician.

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In the later stages of Alzheimer's, you may experience different obstacles when trying to get the patient to see his or her physician. Obstinate behavior and acting out may make your trip difficult. Sometimes just getting the patient out the front door may be a problem. The following suggestions may help your trip to the doctor go smoothly.

Simplify what you tell the impaired person

Get them ready to go. If they question where they are being taken, you can tell them to the doctor and then out to lunch or out for ice cream. This may take the emphasis off of the doctor visit. Also, try to be very reassuring since this may be a frightening and strange experience for the patient.

Validate the impaired person's fears

Agree with their arguments and also state our position, “I know you are healthy and feel you don't need to see a doctor but I would feel much better knowing you have a clean bill of health.”

Take someone with you

If possible, take a third person along to help in the car while you drive as well as to assist you in occupying the person while you wait.

Plan the trip out well

Know where you are going. You may also call ahead and warn the nurse and/or doctor in advance about the person's behavior if you will be waiting for a long period. Bring distractions along such as snacks or pictures to look at.

Use other physical problems as an excuse

If the person has any discomforts such as a hip hurting, explain that the doctor will give them something to help their hip.

A prescription may help

If the person is extremely anxious and acting out, ask your doctor about prescribing something to make the trip easier for both of you.

See if the doctor will do a home visit

It may be rare today, but there are still some visiting physicians. If not the doctor, a nurse practitioner or visiting nurse service may be able to do an assessment and report to the physician, as long as your patient's problems are not emergencies.

Source: the National Capital Area Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

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