83 old mother is not being monitored by doctor's orders, husband refuses to take her to monthly blood tests, she has many serious conditions such as enlarged liver, stroke, high blood pressure, etc, medication is coumadin for 10 years now, regardless of our plea, what can we do?
Could you manage to supervise monthly blood checks once a month? Remind Mom of the appointment the day before, arrange a cab ride both ways, call her and tell her when the cab will be there, call her later and make sure she got home safely?
Her husband is making a fairly simple monthly task far more complicated than it has to be, but I doubt there is anything you can do to change that. The best you can hope for is to work around him in your mother's best interest.
And by the way, does she have any say in her own medical care? Because it doesn't seem she is non compliant but he is and he is not the patient. If that won't work, ask the doctor is she is a candidate for a different type of blood thinners. They have some new medications now where blood checks are not necessary. But the doctor would have to decide based on her situation. From what I understand, if the blood is not monitored property, then there also could be risk of bleeding or failure for it to work properly, as you probably already know. Do they live in a private house? Can they meet on a porch or patio? If an apt, is there a community room? Would the intervention of a social service worker cause more problemls or convince him to cooperate more? What about senior transportation and hiring an aide if necessary to go with her?
and explain the situation.
Yes, there are professional grade inr
Meters. In some limited cases Medicare
Will pay for.
if you buy yourself..meter is approximately
$1000, but strips about $1 to $2 each.
You may need an rx for it.
That might be an option....look around
internet...quick medical or cila waived.
Talk to the Dr for options.
Good luck
that is good that she is willing. I think
Another poster mentioned a taxi
Or something. Anymore many communities
have some sort of senior transport available
For a dollar or two for each direction.
depending....maybe talking with clinic
Things might be changed around...when
She goes to clinic do labs first....and then
Dr can review and make recommendations
All in one trip if possible.
As for papa's attitude...that's a hard one.
Something in his past triggered something.
I would guess he is in fairly good shape
Or maybe he feels she is 83, so just
Leave her alone, or he has had some
Bad dealings with doctors.
another possible idea is to have them
Go to the clinic together and meet with
The Dr or nurse, that will explain what
Is wrong, why its important/complications
And the plan of treatment, and how the
Treatment helps.....it could be an education
Problem...once he sees why and how he
Might change, learning the importance...or
Lastly, and hopefully not, he is just stubborn or
Bullheaded.
I wish you luck