Eldercare Healthcare Advocacy

A few years ago, my elderly mom was very ill, but we didn't know what was wrong with her. She was having terrible headaches that just wouldn't go away for over a month that were excruciatingly painful. We took her to her family doctor repeatedly who continued to prescribe nose spray and antibiotics as he thought it was a sinus infection. One Sunday night it was so bad, we took her to the emergency room and after running some tests, the ER doctor wasn't quite sure what was wrong, but felt she could return home if we promised to get her in to her family doctor the next morning for further examination.

We called her family doctor the next day and told the office manager of the previous nights events and the ER doctors instructions. I was shocked when she informed me that my mom could be seen in five days as she had just been in the previous week. I BEGGED her, explaining mom had not slept all night and she felt horrible and the ER doctor said we should come in. She did not care.The woman was simply thinking she knew what was best. Period! Well, I had news for her. WE were not going to sit around and wait five days. I phoned my family doctor who said if she would switch to him, he could indeed treat her that morning, but that he would put in a call to Mom's doctor on my behalf first asking them to see her. He did and they refused him as well saying they knew best. We took her in to my doctor and after taking her vitals, he hospitalized her for terrible electrolyte imbalance. He said had we waited she would have either had a stroke or could have easily died had we waited. Almost 8 years later, the experience remains vivid in my mind and I like to share the story so that other elders or caregivers know that they must be their own best advocates for themselves and their families. Certainly most doctors do indeed care for their patients and have their utmost care in mind, but there are others, those few bad apples that simply are in it to make a living and not to care for their patients.

We certainly need to trust our physicians and healthcare providers, but if we feel something is off, or not right, we have the right to advocate on our aging parent's behalf. Here is a brief summary of a patient's bill of rights. They should provide an information disclosure, have a choice of plans and providers, easy access to ER services, be allowed to be a part of treatment choices, always shows respect, no discrimination,  confidentiality, allowed to complain.

If we know the these rights, we can understand what is and is not allowed concerning their healthcare and help make sure they get the best possible care available.