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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 02:24 PM Oct 2017

Saw my doctor today

Well, my 'primary care' doctor. I have five doctors.

I had asked one of the receptionists several months ago how the doctors divide their time between patients, and she said depending upon your needs they set aside either 15 minutes or 30 minutes per patient.

This guy spent over one hour with me this morning, discussing my various ailments, tests, medications and the issues I've been having with my memory the past year or so.

He suggested my moving into an assisted living facility and, when I got done laughing, we discussed other possibilities for getting things more under control.

An assisted living facility would be great, but they run around $3,000 a month, if Google is correct. Not something I can afford.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Saw my doctor today (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Oct 2017 OP
They are expensive, that's for sure Siwsan Oct 2017 #1
Don't forget that if your aunt marybourg Oct 2017 #4
Had she not broken her hip, I'd have brought her home, when I retired Siwsan Oct 2017 #6
I Have you added up what it costs you marybourg Oct 2017 #2
I'm on Social Security ... left-of-center2012 Oct 2017 #7
im dealing with this decision for my parents... samnsara Oct 2017 #3
As someone who lives in a retirement community marybourg Oct 2017 #5
If the doctor actually recommended assisted living PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 2017 #8
"you can't be living on your own" left-of-center2012 Oct 2017 #9

Siwsan

(27,282 posts)
1. They are expensive, that's for sure
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 02:33 PM
Oct 2017

The one my aunt was in started REALLY reasonable. But then the 'extra' charges started building up. If she needed help with practically anything, they upped the bill. Then they said they had to supply her over the counter medicines, and they bought them from a place that was SO over inflated, I almost fainted, when I saw the bill. And don't even get me started on the "house physician". She'd have been in better hands with a Shaman.

Once my sister became too ill to take care of things, it fell to me, and I became a royal pain in their side.

I know that there are some really good assisted living places, out there. This, supposedly, was one of them. But you have to scrutinize the bills to prevent them from exploiting.





marybourg

(13,181 posts)
4. Don't forget that if your aunt
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 03:02 PM
Oct 2017

were at home and needed that help, she'd have to pay for it also, in addition to her regular expenses.

You should have been allowed to have her over the counter meds sent yourself. Unless a state law prohibits it. I get my spouse's sent from Amazon and bring them myself on a schedule.


Siwsan

(27,282 posts)
6. Had she not broken her hip, I'd have brought her home, when I retired
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 03:17 PM
Oct 2017

But once that happened, we all knew it was just a matter of time. She was 98, and broke her hip on New Year's Day. I retired on June 9. She died September 9.

marybourg

(13,181 posts)
2. I Have you added up what it costs you
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 02:51 PM
Oct 2017

to live now? Nearly everything you pay for now, except for Doctor co -pays and toiletries will be covered by your assisted living rent.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
7. I'm on Social Security ...
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 05:30 PM
Oct 2017

... and get the national average, which is way lower than the cost of assisted living.

“In the Cost of Care Survey conducted by Genworth Financial, assisted living national median monthly rate is $3,750 ($45,000 a year)."

samnsara

(18,282 posts)
3. im dealing with this decision for my parents...
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 02:58 PM
Oct 2017

...they are 90 miles from me, still living in the same town (and in the SAME home with an acre of land to take care of) we were born in but all my sisters and all the rest of the family have moved away from that cesspool. Now my parents are in their 80's-90's and in need of assistance with just daily stuff as they tend to do things or get stuff that lands them in the hospital for a week at a time and then yours truly has to leave my own family and go stay there and help out until there are 2 of them there again.

Actually they really NEED to be in assisted living but my gosh it is horribly expensive.. also they have dogs....and my parents would NEVER agree to such a place.

So maybe a suggestion for you would be what we are aiming to do with my parents is buy them a home in a retirement community. They will still have their independence.( and you would too). A fenced in yard for the dogs...and lots of amenities that come with the place.

marybourg

(13,181 posts)
5. As someone who lives in a retirement community
Tue Oct 3, 2017, 03:07 PM
Oct 2017

And has a spouse in assisted living, let me assure you that the first is in no way a substitute for the second.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(26,727 posts)
8. If the doctor actually recommended assisted living
Thu Oct 5, 2017, 01:46 PM
Oct 2017

for you, then he's strongly suggesting that you can't be living on your own.

Costs do vary greatly, so it wouldn't hurt to investigate some such facilities where you live. Or find out if some kind of home health care is available to you at little or no cost.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
9. "you can't be living on your own"
Thu Oct 5, 2017, 04:39 PM
Oct 2017

Yeah, that's pretty much his thinking.
But I think I can cope for some time longer.

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