Are you looking for a doctor to for your aging parents?
Finding the right doctor is no easy task. When you’re choosing a doctor for elderly parents, you’re putting their lives in the hands of a stranger.
To choose the right doctor, you need to feel confident that they have the qualifications, skills, and temperament that your parents deserve. Most importantly, you need to trust them.
Picking the perfect doctor for elderly patients is more than just an important task, it could be one of the most crucial professional relationships that you’ll ever have. It’s not a matter of labeling a doctor as “good” or “bad,” you need to make sure that the doctor is right for your elderly parents.
With the right questions, you’ll be able to find the doctor with the experience to treat the complex medical needs that come with aging–and one who can put your parents’ concerns to rest.
Here’s what you should look for in a doctor–so you can be sure that the most important people in your life get the care that they need and deserve.
1. Find Referrals
One of the first things that you should look for is a solid referral. Your parents might feel more comfortable working with a doctor that is recommended by someone they know. You can also look at organizations that you trust.
Here are some people you can reach out to for a referral:
- Friends, neighbors, or relatives who are aging or seeing a geriatrician
- Other health professionals you know, including previous providers or local pharmacists
- Local advocacy groups, especially for a specific condition like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
2. Consider Location
It’s important that you consider the location before you decide on a doctor. While you’re younger, it might not be as big of an issue to take a 20-minute drive or use public transportation to get to your doctor, but convenience is more important to older adults.
Especially if they’re sick, having difficulty walking, need to be seen urgently, or can’t drive themselves, location is key. Having a clinic that’s in or close to your hometown is an important factor in finding the right physician to treat your elderly parents.
If location is a concern or you can’t find a physician in the area, there are other options available.
3. Look for Commitment
If you’re with a doctor that’s seeing a lot of other patients–or one that simply seems impatient and unwilling to take the time to work with you–they might not b the right choice.
Especially for elderly patients, it’s important to find a doctor that will spend an appropriate amount of time with your parents. They should take time to answer all of their questions, explain everything thoroughly, and not make them feel rushed.
Above all, your parents deserve to feel listened to and they should trust that their doctor cares about their wellbeing. This can be a difficult time for elderly adults in terms of health, so it’s more important than ever that your doctor is willing to guide you through the process.
4. Check Standards
While individual referrals are often the most effective, you can also look for other measures of excellence.
Look for a physician affiliated with a professional network or organization that requires a high standard of care and a record of positive outcomes. These can include board certifications, membership in national organizations, or links to leading medical associations.
5. Use Google
Before you settle on your final pick, it’s important to screen your candidates online. Sometimes Google can tell you things that you won’t learn from just their qualifications. Many doctors have an online presence that can give you valuable insight into who they are and how they run their practice.
Check their website to see what they specialize in and what their strengths are. Do they seem friendly? Are they available via email and easy to contact?
An online presence can expose some red flags too. Keep an eye out for review sites or news articles that might reveal any scandals, malpractice, or poor quality service in the past.
6. Ask Questions
Once you’ve compiled a list of physicians that you’re thinking about, start calling around to ask questions.
You can either interview over the phone or even drop by for a brief in-person appointment. The best way to find out if this is the right doctor for your parents is simply to have a conversation with them. You, your parents, and the physician can discuss their health and ask questions that are important for each of you.
Not only does this give you a sense of the doctor’s kindness, dedication, and knowledge of their field, but it can also help you understand their personality. Even if a doctor is at the top of their field, if their personality is incompatible with you or your parents, you just might have to keep looking.
Finding the Right Doctor for Elderly Parents
Finding the perfect doctor for elderly parents will take time, energy, and a lot of research. This is an important decision–and not one to take lightly. It’s crucial that you have all the facts before you make your final choice.
And most importantly, you need to make sure your parents are happy with the physician you choose. A doctor should support their comfort and wellbeing–making them feel at ease no matter what happens.
Looking for more tips and tricks to handle family concerns? Check out our fatherhood advice section to learn more.
