Dealing With your Aging Parents

Below is an excerpt of a book I wrote designed to give you a road map for decisions you will have to make if you have aging relatives.  The book is now Available for download at Amazon.

Dealing with Aging Parents

 

“What adult children and seniors must know about growing older”

 

by

 

David H. Disraeli

 

 Marliyn Meyers was preparing dinner for her family of four when the phone rang.  It was her mother’s neighbor Fran.  “Marilyn, its Fran honey”, her voice was trembling, “I was playing cards with your mom this morning when she passed out.  “Passed out?” “Yes honey she’s at County Memorial right now being looked at”.  Marlyn’s heart sank as she pictured her mother, alone in a hospital with complete strangers around her, or worse with tubes going all over the place.  Marilyn lived in Atlanta with her husband and two teen boys.  Her husband was a successful attorney and her mother lived in Jackson Mississippi in the same house Marilyn grew up in. 

 

“Is she OK? What’s going on” Honey they won’t tell me anything since I’m not family but the paramedics got her to respond but she isn’t really saying much.  I think you need to come here right away.  Here’s the number to the hospital.”

 

Marilyn’s mind was swirling.  She already had a full plate with her civic duties and both boys in sports and scouts.  She hung up the phone with Fran and called her husband.  He rushed home to be with his wife.  Marilyn called the hospital.  “Mrs. Meyers, this is Doctor Fortney, I’m the neurologist looking after your mom.”  “Is she OK, what’s wrong?”  Marilyn tried hard to conceal her panic.  “Right now we’re doing some tests.  When she came in she was going in and out of consciousness, but her vital signs are fine.”  “Did she have a stroke?”  “We just don’t know yet but I need to ask you some questions”.  “OK” “Who is her primary physician?”  “Um I’m not sure but I think its Doctor Miller,”  “Ben Miller?” “Yes that’s it” “Ben Miller just retired. I’ll have to track down who he referred her to.  Do you know what medical conditions she has or what meds she’s on?”  “Honestly I don’t, she’s always been in perfect health.  I think she has high blood pressure, but recently her arthritis has been giving her trouble”.  “Ok we will need to do a workup, hopefully it’s just a drug related problem but we won’t know for a few hours.  “I’ll need you to come in and sign some papers, are you nearby?”  “No I’m in Atlanta.”  “I see, I presume you have a power of attorney for healthcare?”  “Yes she took care of all that a year ago.”  “Great, we’ll need a copy of that faxed over with the authorization forms so we can get started.”  “Doctor I don’t have a copy of it here.”  “Well we can get started with some of the tests but we’ll need that form”.  “Um OK, I’ll see what I can do.”

 

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