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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How To Help And Elderly Person Who Refuses Medical Help?

My father, age 71 refuses to get medical treatment and he is absolutely in no condition to be safely left at his home by his self yet expects everyone else to be at his every beckon call when it is just not possible for any of his children includeing myself to stay over around the clock... We are stuck wanting to fullfill his wishes to stay in his house as long as we can but he WILL NOT GO TO ANY DOCTOR! What should we do in this case?
Thu, 2 Apr 2015
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
hi
i understand your concern, old age is considered to be the 2nd childhood, so older people require as much attention as a child. Like u may not leave a child alone without supervision in a house, u cannot leave an elderly person alone too.So considering his age due to de aging process his brain maybe undergoing senile degeneration, ie. his brain too is aging. This may result in personality changes that you may have mentioned. U should talk to him despite the hostility he shows you. because it is a result of aging, and he dosent know he s a changed person. I have a suggestion for your problem, you could consult a geriatric physician who would come to your home to asses your father and would follow up with periodic visits to monitor his health. This is de best option u can take. And perhaps you could hire a nurse to take care of your father in case of any debilitating conditions.

thank u
wish him a good recovery
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How To Help And Elderly Person Who Refuses Medical Help?

hi i understand your concern, old age is considered to be the 2nd childhood, so older people require as much attention as a child. Like u may not leave a child alone without supervision in a house, u cannot leave an elderly person alone too.So considering his age due to de aging process his brain maybe undergoing senile degeneration, ie. his brain too is aging. This may result in personality changes that you may have mentioned. U should talk to him despite the hostility he shows you. because it is a result of aging, and he dosent know he s a changed person. I have a suggestion for your problem, you could consult a geriatric physician who would come to your home to asses your father and would follow up with periodic visits to monitor his health. This is de best option u can take. And perhaps you could hire a nurse to take care of your father in case of any debilitating conditions. thank u wish him a good recovery