When is it time to call the doctor?

We already talked about getting the most out of doctor’s appointments, but, how do you know when it’s time for you or your aging parent to see or call the doctor?

I learned quickly that I had to ask specific questions of my mother in order to get a straight answer about how she was feeling. The fact that I’m a nurse sometimes helped, sometimes didn’t.

Sometimes, too, older people are afraid of “bothering” the doctor, or, wasting someone’s time when they go see the doctor, so, they might not go or call even when they need to been seen.

BoomerGirl.com has some guidelines to consider when deciding whether or not to call the doctor.

While it certainly shouldn’t replace a physician’s advice, the list looks like a good place to start for yourself, or, use it as a resource to form questions when you need to assess an elderly parent or grandparent.