Mr. Fisher, with mid-stage Alzheimer's, and his wife faced significant challenges living far from their doctor, and needed support to stay in their local community.
Mr. Fisher had untreated mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease and his wife, Mrs. Fisher, was no longer driving. The couple had moved to an apartment but their primary care physician was three towns away, nearer where they used to live, and so they were not able to see her regularly. The couple’s daughters both live in California. During a cardiology check-up, Mr. Fisher’s cardiologist, Dr. Summers, discovered that Mr. Fisher had driven on his own to his appointment at the large urban medical center.
With the care manager’s help, their medical appointments were coordinated, transportation arranged, and the care manager accompanied them to appointments when appropriate.
How We Helped Them Stay in their Local Community
Dr. Summers called the couple's daughters to express his concern and they contacted Your Elder Experts. The Care Manager visited the couple at their home and discovered how tenuous their situation had become. Mrs. Fisher even felt she had no choice but to send her husband out to drive to the grocery store for food even though his Alzheimer’s made such a task dangerous, if not impossible.
With the care manager’s help, their medical appointments were coordinated, transportation arranged, and the care manager accompanied them to appointments when appropriate. The care manager was becoming the local eyes and ears for their daughters who were doing their best being responsible long-distance caregivers.
Having the care manager involved was also reassuring to Dr. Summers, who now knew that his patients were receiving the support they required to live safely in the community.
If you or someone you care about is navigating the complexities of aging, Your Elder Experts can help.
