Is It Time to Encourage an Aging Parent to Find a New Doctor?

As we grow older, our health care needs change. While you may have always relied on a family physician for a yearly physical exam or an occasional bout of the flu, they might not have the experience necessary to assist with the challenges seniors face. Even worse, some may dismiss troubling or painful symptoms as a normal part of the aging process. That can leave an older adult wondering what to do next.

How can you tell whether it’s time to look for a new primary care physician or encourage your senior loved one to do so? With the assistance of geriatrician Dr. James Pacala, AARP has provided a list of six warning signs you can use to determine if the time has come to find a new doctor.

6 Warning Signs You Need a New Physician

While few people like the idea of changing doctors, Dr. Pacala advises older adults to be wary of a physician who:

1. Blames everything on aging: Dismissing every concern as “just normal aging” without investigating further is a red flag. Not only is it frustrating, it might even lead to a small health condition becoming a big one. If you feel as if you or your senior family member isn’t being heard, it’s likely time for a change.
2. Brushes off chronic health conditions: If you have osteoarthritis, hearing loss, or a chronic health condition that doesn’t have a cure, you know how aggravating it is to have your symptoms brushed off. While there might not be a cure, a physician who has experience working with older adults will usually be able to offer suggestions to help manage the symptoms.
3. Focuses on testing, not results: On the flip side of brushing off a senior’s concern is the physician who doesn’t take a measured approach to diagnosing problems. They schedule multiple tests and prescribe a lot of medicines but don’t focus on results. It can be a sign that they just aren’t accustomed to working with older patients.
4. Doesn’t educate you about potential side effects: When a physician prescribes a new medication, especially for a senior, they should always take a few minutes to review potential risks. Because older adults process medicine differently than younger people do, they experience a higher number of side effects and adverse reactions.
5. Never has time for questions: If your doctor never has the time or patience to address your questions and concerns, it’s time to find a new physician. While this is true at any age, older adults typically have a higher number of health issues that need to be managed.
6. Doesn’t consider lifestyle factors: When a physician routinely orders tests or treatments that don’t take a senior’s personal situation into account, it’s another red flag they might not be the right doctor moving forward. For example, a senior patient recently discharged from the hospital might benefit more from home health care services than outpatient therapy.

If you’ve noticed more than one or two of these warning signs in your doctor or your older loved one’s, it might be time to begin exploring your options. Five Ways to Find Dr. Right from CNN Health offers good tips to help you find a new physician.

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