As the primary care giver to my 89 year old Father-In-Law, the one who takes him to the doctor. I accept my responsibility and do it to the best of my ability.......My problem is that he is 89, with his walker proceeds at a snail's pace partly due to his age and because he continues to flirt with any woman under 90 along the way. His big line now is when he sees a woman with dimples he tells them "You were kissed by an angel." Sounds cute, I know but after you've heard it a million times, you want to scream.
He also loves a 30 something female drug rep as most of them are quite attractive. I have to be on guard here as he may go from being cute to a dirty old man. I've learned a great eye roll to put them at ease. If the women don't respond in a manner acceptable to him he goes for for babies and small children most who cry and hide behind their mother's legs. Again, I use my eye roll to relieve the tension.
In must admit that taking him to the DR makes me feel really young as in the time it takes him to get from point A to point B, I've gotten him out of the car, put the walker in front of him and led him in the direction to the door. I park the car sometimes many yards away and catch up with him by the time he reaches the elevator just feet from where I let him off. This is on a good day. On others there are other cars and assisted living buses in front of me all vying for the three feet of space that you can safely maneuver a walker over.
I a perfect world a geriatric practice would have a drive through, you let your elderly charge out to immediately be whisked away to the proper location while you park the car. Also, if your elder has no health issues he would be required a yearly visit, not every four to six months with a separate visit for lab work prior. Other than this primary care there are the specialists in between such as the one who cuts his toenails.
All too much for an 89 year old man who has a chlorestrol level as someone a quarter of his age.
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