Depressed over the over use of doctors and procedures..approaching 80

@kayraymat
Some of the obstacles to reporting elder neglect (care neglect) is the physiological and degree of caregiver (if there is one) psychological stress in any given hospitalization/rehabilitation situation.

For example: all persons have a degree of what I call "constitutional reserve or resolve". In my mind, constitutional reserve consists of physiologic and mental ability to deal with either biological stress (aches and pains, injury, illness) or environmental stress (stress of keeping a home going, dealing with Ai, nasty people in the public realm, taking care of just our own selves, let alone anyone else).

After years of casual observation, I believe that reserve begins to decline at a different rate for different ages. For example: one 60 yo may have the overall reserve of a 40 year old, or one 80 year old may have the reserve of a 65 year old! It all depends on the genetics and stressors in life we have been dealt.

Never the less, as we age our individual amount of reserve declines. Tackling advocacy for one's own self or others is psychologically draining and affects physiology (immune function), so not everyone can be an advocate and stay healthy/sane! This is why there are caregiver support forums like this one at Mayo and at Area Agencies on Aging offices.

Older people being advocates for themselves takes reserve energy. Summoning up reserve energy to take on advocacy or caregiving takes more effort as each year passes in life.

It behooves us ALL - all of those over 60-65 to ENSURE we have an advocate in their social support, or a social support plan as they age.

A social support plan is just as important as a financial plan. Even if one has to PAY for an advocate, as part of the plan, do so if you possibly can.

IF you absolutely cannot, contact your area agency on aging, Ombudsman Program. Keep the number on you if you are hospitalized, and ESPECIALLY if you are placed in a REHAB center.

I believe there is new Federal legislation via Medicare out there to MANDATING adding Ombudsmen to EVERY state. Am ombudsman is a watchdog.

My county has Ombudsman training as a volunteer in February, 2026. They are begging for people, and have funded SIX new positions for a county in the southern half of my state. They have MONTHLY intensive training, you train one month, are assigned to keep an eye on certain facilities.

From what I understand, all this has come about BECAUSE of Medicare guidelines.

So there is HOPE!

Anyone else know about this legislation or want to research it, I really haven't time at the moment as I am an advocate. But I am only one person, and am ramping up to help more as I am fortunate enough to be a very healthy Baby Boomer and a young one at only 70.

I have done private or volunteer Ombudsman work since obtaining my Master's degree in Gerontology when I was 35, in 1990. One of my BIGGEST fears is landing in a bad rehab facility or nursing home, and having no one come check on me for whatever time frame I need. But I am working on it.

If you want to do something truly rewarding and are able, please contact your Ombudsman program in your state and request training - we Baby Boomers NEED advocates, paid or unpaid - everywhere.

ALL you younger readers: you will age to old age; please get involved now.

From what I have gathered, new Legislation in states REQUIRE an ombudsman be assigned to EVERY rehab/LTC facility in each county and the Area Agencies on Aging are tasked with making that happen.

This is huge need and a huge project - Ombudsman legislation. It can only be done with volunteer advocates as well as paid advocates.

Paid or volunteer advocates do not need to have a degree like mine, but only compassion and a desire to do good for elderly residing in facilities, as well as at home.

@margaretob Prayer is ALWAYS good 🫶

@openloc1949 One would think. Nursing has just plain changed from even a clinical setting. I'm not saying there are no good nurses, but the profession as a whole seems to have shifted.

@fun2go In all actuality, sometimes it is best to ask questions without letting doctors know your medical background. I have had some doctors outright ask me by the level of questions I asked. But there seem to be quite a few doctors nowadays with a God complex. We are just supposed to hush and go along with whatever they say (or don't day). You are not to question their authority. Bull. If I don't understand. I'm going to keep on inquiring. I'm paying alot for supplemental Healthcare. Have any of you noticed HIPAA laws being violated? Because I have. Big time.

@slarson14 Excellent post. If I did not have a hearing problem, I'd be all in.

I am going to look up the OMNIBUDSMAN ISSUE and study everything. Just had a whole heart thing for five days and now they want more to see more DOCTORS and have more tests that I had MANY TIMES already. Just got my meds to take at home for the next ten days and the drugstore has been alerted to keep the meds up. NOW THEY ARE SAYING TO SEE ANOTHER CARDIOLOGIST FOR A WHOOSHING SOUND< I am still sore from the whole operation and just want to heal with many many bruises which I was not warned about...ANOTHER FOLLOW UP> ANOTHER ULTRASOUND ANOTHER APPOINTMENT?? HOW MANY IS TOO MANY??????

secondly I was at THREE HOSPITALS ONE FOR EMERGENCY HEART PAIN ONE FOR TESTING AND ONE FOR THE OPERATION (CALCIFICATION AND TWO STENTS) NOW I MUST GO TO ANOTHER CARDIOLOGIST FOR MORE TESTING WHICH THEY JUST DID ANOTHER ULTRASOUND DONE. HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH AND TOO FAST??????IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO WEEKS AND I AM TIRED OF IT ALL....WHAT HAPPENS NOW???

follow up sent me this week to another CARDIOLOGIST for the whooshing sound in the heart area...and an ultrasound which left those sticky buttons all over my chest to take home....I am still weak from all of the first work done....they did call the local drugstore to update the meds and said to keep taking them....when does it all get DONE??????.@margaretob

HEY YOU SOUND GREAT KEEP IN TOUCH MY 82 night be better....MAYBE....

we all need more COMEDIANS TO GET THROUGH MONTHS NOT YEARS YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD ONE @margaretob