Why are some doctors turning away older patients?

Primary care doctors, who can manage some of the chronic conditions common among seniors, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are at times turning older patients away. One root cause is the lack of medical training to attend to the special demands of older patients.

When to question an elderly patient about falling?

Elderly patients with known risk factors for falling should be questioned about falls on a periodic basis. Specific inquiry is necessary because of the fears many elderly persons harbor about being institutionalized. Thus, these patients are unlikely to give falling as a chief complaint.

When does a physician refuse to treat a patient?

For a patient who is actively treating for a condition, a physician must: give the patient proper notice that the physician is terminating the physician-patient relationship, and give the patient sufficient time to find another physician before finally refusing to treat the patient any further.

What are the challenges for an elderly physician?

The elderly patient with declining health poses significant challenges for attending physicians. Often, the cause or causes of the deterioration are not identifiable or are irreversible.

Primary care doctors, who can manage some of the chronic conditions common among seniors, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are at times turning older patients away. One root cause is the lack of medical training to attend to the special demands of older patients.

When to see a doctor about an older person falling?

Doctors almost always do this if an older person has been having generalized weakness, delirium, or other signs of feeling unwell. Be sure to bring up any symptoms you’ve noticed, and let the doctor know how quickly the changes came on. Just about any new health problem that makes an older person weak can bring on a fall. Some common ones include:

When does a doctor refuse to treat a patient?

Patient non-compliance ( non-adherence ). When the patient fails to follow the treatment recommendations established by the doctor. 1  (Which is why it is so important that you and your doctor make treatment decisions together .)

Can a busy doctor take care of an older patient?

Busy doctors may not be thorough unless caregivers are proactive about asking questions. Most doctors have the best intentions, but studies have shown that older patients often don’t get recommended care. By being politely proactive, you can make sure that certain things aren’t overlooked (such as medications that worsen balance).