I'm going out of my mind!! Every time I schedule an appt on my day off for my mother to see her doctor..we get a call that she is running late..sometimes it takes all DAY to get in. I feel like it's a huge disrespect to myself and my free time and I'm not sure how to handle it since my mother loves her doc. I can't ever schedule any other appts around it, OR have anything at all planned for the day due to her always being late- and we never know when we'll get in...advice????
Thanks for the smile!
What I did, and I hope this helps -
First, I talked with my dad. It was "Look dad, I love ya, but these doctor visits are insanely long. We need to figure something out that's a bit more reasonable". I don't know how mentally healthy your mom is, but my dad can be a bit nutty like the rest of us at times. On this point, it wasn't the doctor he loved, it was the whole "I'm going on a visit, out of the house" thing. He didn't really love the doc, he loved the visit.
So, secondly, I asked him if he was up to changing doctors, he said yes. This is a feat - my dad won't see women doctors, only men (some sort of comfort or control thing there) and he lives in a rural area where doctors of any kind are hard to come by. But we did it. It worked.
His appts. to his new doctor, visit and trip time included, runs 1 hour. On time, as doctor visits go.
I guess I could have spent time dealing with the issue with his first doctor's office as my dad liked going there, but I didn't go that route. I had already spoken with the office staff a few times in the past about the issue and they didn't care to work with me. So, I chose the "change the doctor" battle instead.
krnflakgrl , sorry for your loss . my pa is 86 yrs old with dementia .
i lost my mom in 20 yrs ago due to cancer , very sad times there . she kept sayin shes ready to meet her master (lord) . well after sufferin for few mos and he took her . it was fast spreading cancer . i know shes alot happier now , no more suffering ...
Either way..thanks again for all your great responses. It's so nice to come on here and see that others are going through the same thing. It's like a huge hug!!! Thanks you guys!!!
what do you mean youre waiting by the phone?? id march down there and tell them, i have a 9:15(whichever) appt and im here for it.. i wouldnt even give them time to call me, i wouldnt answer, just go down there...its too odd and i have NEVER heard of such a thing!! id be aggressive about it. id sit in that doctors office and remind them "its been an hour past my appt time" etc.
who knows =) maybe after a while theyll get so irritated with you reminding them of the time etc and "whats the hold up!!" that the doctor will see you just to get you to be quiet! hahaha
but honestly, with the new information you posted, have you talked to your mother about TRYING a new doctor? just ask if you can make an appt with someone else just to see how she likes them..
Now for your case: It sounds like maybe you would be better served getting a new doctor. It sounds like your mother's doctor isn't going to "change her spots" and she will be "running late" with regularity. If I were you, I"d start looking for a new doctor. And while changing docs, I'd try to find one who specializes in geriatric medicine. This would make your life easier. Good Luck!
try making advance appts( a regular schedule even for 2 months ahead if it has to be). Ask for the first appt of the day. The first few appts will, of course, probably be booked but as you go along youll get that first spot and it will get better and better.