Update on Gladys’ Dementia and Other Issues

Dementia

I took Gladys to see the doctor on Monday.  Other than her dementia and severe arthritis, her overall health is pretty good; but as I suspected, because of the dementia she is declining.  I talked with the doctor and he ruled out her meds and explained it is just the nature of the dementia.

I explained how over the past two weeks her memory is a lot worse, night time incontinence has become daily instead of occasional and her increased difficulty with simple tasks.  I asked him why the changes were so sudden.  His reply was that though the changes seemed sudden to me, that they were probably gradual because at first she was able to compensate but has gotten to the point where she can’t compensate any longer.

So we move on to what needs to be done.

The Doctor’s Staff

A few months ago I mentioned that I was not happy with the staff at the doctor’s office.  They were not good at making appointments they said they would make for referrals.  I had to call back several times to check on prescriptions and other issues.  They would tell me they were working on it and I didn’t hear from them until I called to follow-up.  In essence, their follow-up was atrocious.

Anyway, during Gladys’ last appointment in February, I had a talk with the doctor and told him how I was frustrated with his staff.  I also told him that I thought they were inefficient and incompetent.  When he told me that the nurse would make an appointment with a dermatologist for the mystery rash on Gladys’ leg, I said “Give me the number, I’ll make the appointment myself.  If I wait for your staff, the rash will be gone or evolved into something else.”

What I did not tell him was that I was going to look for another doctor for Gladys.  I probably didn’t need to tell him because I’ve been told that when I am perturbed or annoyed that is shows all over my face.  When we went to the office on Monday, the entire staff (with the exception of two people) had been replaced.  The two people who remain are the only ones I thought were competent.  Obviously, I was not the only person who had complained.

The moral of this story is speak up and let doctors know when you have a problem with them or their staff.

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