A: I was so excited to receive your letter, because physicians are often times the ones on the front line when it comes to seeing that an elderly person needs assistance. It's quite unfortunate, but most of the time the social component of aging-related issues goes relatively unaddressed by physicians due to our society's specialized model of medical care.
The most important step you can take is to educate yourself on the services available for seniors. People tend to automatically think of "government-based services" when they think of where to refer someone for assistance. Yet there are other options.
 Jeannine Clark |
Now, don't get me wrong. I believe the services provided by these governmental programs serve a purpose, and do help people, but all people are not alike. Some people can navigate well within a government system, and yet others need more guidance. When you add in the various issues an older adult may be experiencing, such as depression or illness, then taking action and following through on tasks becomes even more difficult for some.
As a physician, you can help your older patients by first determining if the patient is a self-motivator, or someone who needs more guidance. You also want to pay particular attention to whether the patient has issues relating to a denial of their own ageing process.
Another step that you can take is to be more proactive in assisting the patient on making the needed contacts. I know that physicians are really strapped for time, but by helping your older patients get connected to appropriate resources, you will probably decrease the number of return visits and phone calls that you receive by some of your more needy patients.
The subject of cost comes up as a major component to a person's reluctance to accepting assistance, but often times the initial cost of certain services turns out to be a savings in the long run. This is where a physician needs to have an understanding of the cost savings associated with a person proactively getting assistance, and then pass that on to their patient.
Older adults need to understand that by not taking care of health issues, by not addressing problems as they arise, or even before they arise, they are putting themselves into a situation where they may require skilled nursing, or other care. This, in turn, could be more costly than having worked with someone proactively.
We must keep in mind that our state agencies are currently in a severe budget crisis making it even more important that those helping older adults know about both public and private services available in the community.
Since many people see their physician as having all the answers, and often times will heed the advice of their physician, it is important that you have a familiarity with services, and develop a way of moving your older adult patients into action. The main thing is persistence, encouragement, and providing a person with the facts, or a way to get the facts.
Jeannine Clark is a Pescadero resident, medical social worker and private geriatric care manager with Clark Consulting.Send questions to Clark Consulting, P.O. Box 101, Pescadero, CA 94060, or email to: clark@southcoast.net.
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