Helping a Senior Choose the Right Doctor

Finding the right doctor for an elderly person is a difficult quest, one that seems even more impossible if they have a terminal illness. Many patients with terminal illnesses have found that general practitioners are much less enthusiastic about providing care for them than patients with a “solvable” ailment. Others find a doctor willing to work to improve their quality of life as much as possible, but they are either compassionate, but incompetent; or competent, but have forgotten laymen’s terms and have aweful bedside manner: They’re like listening to a textbook.

Finding a doctor who is competent and has an excellent bedside manner is difficult, but possible, you just have to know where to look and who to ask.

Check with the local support group, particularly one specific to your illness. Many of these people have first hand experience with local practitioners and can tell you who to avoid, and who will potentially suit your needs. If your choices are limited, sometimes just being prepared for Dr. Textbook can really help (like bringing a list of questions).

Quality assurance checks are becoming more and more frequent in the field of medical care. Many doctors reports are free, others charge a small fee.

Online message board or chat groups are excellent sources of anecdotal feedback about caregivers.

Ultimately, you may not know if a doctor will suit your needs until you meet them, so be willing to keep searching. Medical insurance policies can make switching doctors difficult, but switching to a provider who will provide better care and communicate effectively with you could certainly be worth the hassle.