Part V in a Series
Visiting the Doctor
In our previous newsletter, the Partnering With Your Doctor column
begins with “The person with Alzheimer’s disease has the same illnesses as
a non-demented person of the same age; and any physical problem experienced
by a person with dementia escalates his/her confusion and negatively
impacts functioning. Therefore, ongoing medical care for the person with
dementia is essential…”
No matter how much you as the caregiver may agree with the above,
getting the person with dementia to comply may be problematic. The person
with dementia may not understand or agree with the need to see the
doctor. She may be confused or anxious about what will take place during
the visit; fearful that she will get unwelcome news about her condition; or
perhaps fearful of being embarrassed because she’s no longer able to answer
the doctors questions, etc.
Here are some tips for dealing with this difficulty:
- It’s often better not to tell her in advance of the appointment. Having
the information in advance may add to the person’s confusion. Tell the
person when you’re preparing to leave home or are near the doctor’s office.
- Give yourself and the person with dementia plenty of time to get ready
before leaving home. If you rush her, her anxiety will increase, which
will result in a decrease in her ability to function, making it even more
difficult to get out of the house on time.
- Make the outing part of something fun to do, e.g. after we’re finished
at the doctor’s we can go to the park and get an ice cream cone.
- Schedule the doctor’s appointment for the first available appointment of
the session, e.g., if the doctor’s office hours are 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., take the
1:00 p.m. appointment. By being the doctor’s first appointment, you avoid
the possibility of delays beyond your appointment time due to backlog.
- Take into consideration the time of day that’s best for the person
with dementia. If she’s someone who functions best and is least
confused in the morning, then a morning appointment would be optimum.
- Go as a patient yourself. Explain to the person with dementia that it’s
time for you both to either have your annual check-ups or to get your flu shots.
In the recent past a number of Home Visiting Doctors Programs have been
established. This option may be an antidote to the stress of getting the person
with dementia to the doctor’s office. If you would like more information
about the Home Visiting Doctors Programs, or if you wish to discuss your
individual situation, please call our 24-hour Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
Della Frazier-Rios, RN, MS
Vice President
Director of Education & Outreach
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