Half Moon Bay Review -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 3/17/2004
Last Visited: 3/17/2004
Jeannine Clark
By Jeannine Clark--Q.& A.
Q: I'M A FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN AND I WANTED TO DISCUSS WITH YOU AND YOUR READERS WHAT TO DO ABOUT OLDER ADULTS WHO WON'T ACCEPT ASSISTANCE.IT SADDENS ME WHEN MY OLDER PATIENTS COME TO ME WITH DEPRESSION, DECLINING ABILITIES TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES, AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES THAT ARE IMPAIRING THEIR ABILITIES, BUT THEY WON'T SEEK ASSISTANCE.JUST THE OTHER DAY I HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF REFERRING A PATIENT TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES BECAUSE I KNEW THEY WERE ENDANGERING THEMSELVES BY NOT ADDRESSING THEIR HEALTH ISSUES.MANY TIMES I KNOW THAT IF A PATIENT WOULD JUST SEEK OUT SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF, WHO COULD HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED, THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPIER, SAFER, AND RETAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE.I KNOW YOU RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME.WHAT CAN WE DO?
...
Jeannine Clark is a Pescadero resident, medical social worker and private geriatric care manager with Clark Consulting.Send questions to Clark Consulting, P.O. Box 101, Pescadero, CA 94060, or email to: clark@southcoast.net.