The Burden of Getting Medical Care Can Exhaust Older Patients

Do you have any personal concerns about memory? Or has anyone in your life expressed concern? Otherwise I don't think this test is anything to fear--although it might be bringing up general testing anxiety like those nightmares I sometimes have about being back in school!

Yes, they really don’t help .

I have a friend who memorized counting backwards by sevens! LOL. I know that’s beside the point. Couldn’t resist!!

Yes, I was a "blue baby", I think you end up wired a little differently. As this occurred at birth one compensates more effectively than say an adult would. I compensated for deficits by developing a strong visual memory from the getgo.

Be careful while on Cipro. I was given it for chronic UTI and ended up with C-dif

There’s also the question of what do the medical staff do with their determination of your mental status. I am a little uncomfortable with that.
If they ascertain that you have memory loss, do they tell you? Do they not tell you and call up
your children and tell them?
It would go in your medical records, for sure.
I understand that the doctor is required by Medicare to do a very brief and basic mental status evaluation, but then what?

Anyone for whatever reason has trouble navigating this messed up medical system needs a family member or friend to become their medical power of attorney ie POA. IT is just a form one can find on line or even through a para legal or a lawyer. That POA can help the patient make appointments follow Doctor’s plans, discuss Doctor’s plans accept or deny those. The Navigator of medical is the best solution as they understand the lingo and can’t be ignored. BTW, the medical has created all these problems due to their unprofessionalism. Btw, I am a Physician.

I skimmed some comments here, but not sure if this particular issue was covered and that is the problem with physicians and ageism. I have always been pretty lucky with my health. I did have things come up here and there, some routine stuff (reflux, dry eye (not fun), etc) and some more serious (Lynch syndrome discovered in my 60's - one Lynch cancer so far). Now, I am suffering at almost 75 from a very painful muscular which appears to be something called PMR. I have always been a robust person, worked out like a demon since my 20's.
I fully believe exercise is the answer. I'm not sure I'd be here today without the mental and physical benefits afforded me though it.
Having said all that, I have noticed that it seems as I've aged, docs are more concerned with Medicare which they hate than they are with my health. In fact, most docs lost their mojo years ago when managed care began. Since covid, it's been much worse. Some are almost dismissive. I thought about it. My urologist, for example, gives me a hard time when I ask for an annual cytology and kidney US due to my mother's having had kidney cancer (she's the Lynch carrier). The one Lynch cancer I had was one of the 3 that she had. So, of course I'm concerned. And she should also be doing a cysto every year, imo...not something I relish, but certainly sensible for the situation. She won't explain her stance, just that she doesn't think it's necessary. I want to see a female uro and they are very hard to find which is why I stick with her and she is very smart. But not good with people, impatient and doesn't like to explain things. I feel like her thinking is "You're old. It's your time. Just go live your life and stop trying to elongate your pathetic existence. I have younger patients who bring tons more dough into this practice and will for years. Not you. So go."
I feel younger patients get more from their docs. I did too until I reached my 70's.

Any society which does not respect the elderly and take care of them, has lost its way.

And we have lost our way.

Dedicated to greed and selfishness over morality and caring.

It is absolutely sickening that we have elderly with these kinds of issues.

They should not be left alone to fend for themselves.

@linh

My last two have been done via telephone with a nurse. Not much to it. They do a little memory test and ask if you feel safe at home, evaluate for depression .. if you use assist devises like cane, walker … If you need help dressing or bathing.

Years ago when I went with my mom for an in person visit for her they asked her to count backward from 20. She had dementia and she spewed it off without thought. < smile>