How to Help Aged Seniors Who Resist Medical Care

He recently lost his wife of 65 years. She had been ill for quite a while. However, her death had greatly upset him. He had often said that he wished he could have died with her. It was easy to see that he needed some medical help. Regardless of what I told him he refused to make a doctor's appointment. I thought hard and long trying to figure out what I could do to convince him to get medical care.

He remained in his room for most of the day, and he appeared to be quite depressed. He did not want to get dressed, eat, or get out of the house; no matter what I said or suggested. Not wanting to get upset, or to further pursue the issue, I prepared him some something to eat, and put it in the refrigerator, and I told him to eat it later. Then I left his house and went home.

How Could I Tell That He Was Sick?

I knew that dad was not feeling well by looking at the color of his skin and the white of his eyes. His skin appeared yellowish, and the white in his eyes was already yellow. I also had noticed that he had been scratching himself quite a bit. I knew that these were classical symptoms of hepatitis. I remembered it from the time that I myself had had it. To ignore the symptoms was very dangerous and I knew that it was time for him to see the doctor.

How Could Get Him To a Doctor?

I did not know what I could do to get him to see a doctor. I know that he needed medication fast or he would die. Hepatitis, untreated, would make him extremely ill. It could kill him. I think that he also knew. t. Maybe he just wanted to die?

How Did Trick Him Into Going to The Doctor?

I tricked him into seeing the doctor by telling him that I did not feel well. I casually mentioned that I had started scratching my arms and legs and even the palms of my hand. I told him that since I had always gone to the doctor with mom, I feared going by myself. I figured he would offer to take me, and I was not going to allow him to die. I thought if my dad took me, the doctor would recognize my dad's obvious symptoms of hepatitis.

And it worked!. By the following week my dad was so worried about me, that he said he would drive me to the doctor, so that I did not have to go alone. He also phoned the doctor's office to make the appointment for me, and even asked me what time I would want to go.

What Happened At The Doctors Office?

We went to the doctor and I asked him to come with me into the examination room. He was reluctant at first, but when I persisted, he walked into the room. The doctor welcomed both of us, then turned to my dad and told him that he did not look good, and that his skin was yellow and so were his eyes. My dad took one look at me and knew that the reason I had gone to the doctor, was not for me but for his health.

What Happened After That?

The doctor did a full examination, and took a urine sample and blood for blood tests. He told my dad that he had to remain in bed for a few days, or until the blood and urine test results came back. By that time my dad felt so sick that he did not disagree. The tests all proved positive for a bad case of hepatitis.

The doctor prescribed medications and complete bed rest, or he would have to be hospitalized. Also prescribed was an in-home daily blood test. Medicare was contacted, and a home health care nurse would be seeing him a few days a week.

I cooked and cared for him and visited him every day. The doctor said that I had saved his life.