After 8 years of dealing with hubby's progressing dementia, and fighting him about taking the 8-15 pills daily, I have started asking about quality of life rather than quantity. His dementia is so severe that to me, a cholesterol medication becomes a moot point. If I happen to fall asleep, hubby, a type 2 diabetic will sneak ice cream and anything sweet he can find. I only find out about it when I find the containers or dirty dishes. We are on free food from local pantries, which results in a high number of carbs which we cannot do much about, other than be grateful we have food to eat. They want him to exercise, but I cannot go for walks with him due to my rollator and bad knee from an irrepairable Achille's tendon tear.
I feel like Primary Care and many other doctors only treat by looking at a sheet and giving everyone the same tests, medications, and instructions without factoring in the person's situation, including diagnoses, disease progression, financial situation, food situation, caregiving options, etc. They continue to want to monitor everything more frequently than Medicare recommends, including the foot doctor who wants to see him every 12 weeks and the PCP who insists on a visit every 6 months. To me, if he is basically healthy, what do all these appointments accomplish?
See if he can get in-home appointments. My Mom's primary just got her PT and OT in her home and it's been great.
Sorry about your achilles... I'm having a similar problem. No fun at all.
Need to have his PCP go over his med list and see what he really needs. In my State, to have meds refilled, you must see a PCP every six months. My Moms PCP had her coming every 2 months. She was only on Cholesterol and Blood pressure meds. I stopped that.
Is his Foot Doctor cutting his toenails, if so, Medicare allows every 12 weeks. If you think husband can go longer, then get an appt for longer. See if doctor can come to your home.
Exercise, explain you can't see that he gets it and why. Maybe Doctor can order Physical Therapy in home. Medicare pays for that.
Yes, Drs are clueless. My nephews PCP is a doctor from a Major hospital that has a satellite office in my town. The only practice that excepts Medicaid. They wanted to send them up to a doctor an hour away in the Hospitals network. My nephew does not drive. I said I would not drive him that far. Very highly congested, I do not know the area and in my 70s refuse to drive that far. The office found us someone closer. He is very overweight, Doctor gave him a perscription for the new weight loss med which cost $1700. No Medicaid does not pay for it. How did this Dr think someone on SSD and Medicaid would get $1700.
My food bank has the starchier foods. I try to donate other items.
that is the big question when you have to start weighing the Pro's and Con's of medications.
I would suggest you talk to his doctor for some guidance.
I would say if he is on a medication for the dementia most if it does little good in mid- later stages so if that is where he is that could be discontinued. HOWEVER he should not go off all at once most should be titrated down. And if you notice a change for the worse then it is probably better to maintain and possibly return to the previous dose.
The cholesterol med ... I had a question about that and I mentioned it to a friend of my Husbands and he said he saw no reason to keep him on it...then a day or two later called me and said he had been reading and there is some evidence that the cholesterol meds "may" lessen the chance for a stroke. So (not to get morbid) do you run the risk of him having a stroke and killing him or worse (the worse would be surviving the stroke but not being able to function or recover properly) So I kept him on the cholesterol meds until he went on Hospice.
You need to remember that YOU are the last word when it comes to treatment either for yourself or for your husband.
If they are ordering tests that insurance will not cover or are repeats of ones another doctor ordered then simply say no I will not do that.
I also think you should contact your local Senior Service Center and see if that are any programs that you and your husband may qualify for.
And because this is me replying...Is your husband a Veteran? If so check with your local Veterans Assistance Commission and see if he qualifies for any benefits. He may qualify for a little or a LOT depending on where and when he served. The VA is changing and adding medical conditions all the time that may be reason he might qualify now if he has not in the past.
Your husband is not basically healthy! Dementia and Type 2 diabetes are serious illnesses. All the appointments help keep him alive.
I will say when I discontinued Mom's alzheimer's meds, there was no change and I wish I had discontinued them months earlier.
Please note some meds you have to taper off of.
I went through this with my husband after he suffered a massive stroke which left him unable to walk, talk, eat solid food, and in diapers. I was seeing a primary care doctor every 3 months, then 6 months, just to follow up, and with every visit I asked "does he need this medication?" or "Why does he need this medication?" and "what will happen if he stops taking it?"
While he was still being treated in the hospital, and subsequently in a nursing home for 9 months, doctors prescribed all sorts of medications, some just to treat the side effects of others. Some were for depression and anxiety. Some for blood pressure, some for high blood sugar, and some just to help with bowel movements, a trouble caused by all the other medications.
I managed to stop them, one at a time, and weaned him off of the addictive depression and anti-anxiety medications ( Celexa and Xanax). That was 10 years ago. He is doing just fine. His blood pressure is good, and stable, his blood sugar levels are in an acceptable range, because he no longer has the stress, is unable to smoke, and his diet is controlled - by me.
I make him a batch of protein shakes every single day, which he enjoys, and provides all the nutrition he needs. I did meet with a dietician many years ago, which helped me to understand how to meet his nutritional needs.
I'm sorry you are struggling with your own physical limitations along with lack of good food and help with caregiving.
Is your husband on Medicare? In your financial circumstance, he likely also qualifies for Medicaid assistance. There are dual-complete Medicare Advantage plans which offer perks, such as a healthy benefits card, which helps to buy food and other medical related items needed. My husband has a dual complete medicare advantage plan managed by UHC (in Arizona), and has a healthy benefits card which is pre-loaded with $300 every month that I use to buy Boost nutritional drinks, wipes, disposable pads, pain killers, bandages, and any kind of food. (Except Junk Food) I like salads and lean protein, which I'm able to get.
If he is eligible for any waivered services, Medicaid may also pay for in-home care. Call the county Medicaid office and ask.
I would also suggest finding a medical provider that makes house calls. You can get a nurse practitioner to see him at your home. My husband has had a NP, wound care nurse, x-ray technician, and lab technicians (blood draw) all come to the house. The one thing I would be most concerned with is any complications from his diabetes, if not controlled. So, that might be worth having regular visits from a NP, or at least monitor it yourself at home and call to get a virtual visit or in-home visit if he develops any complications, like wounds on his feet.