Anonymous wrote:I do because my mom does not speak or understand English, so I am the translator and help her for all appointments.

Same for me. I’d love not to have to do it but I have to

I am a doctor , a lot of my patients population are elderly. Usually I like it when they have a family member with them because sometimes it hard for elderly to keep tracks of things and able to explain what we discussed with their family later. Some patient asked me to talk to their kids/ primary care takers on the phone and explain what s going on during visit. I am very happy to do that.

The worst is usually elderly pt from snf, who has no idea what’s going and came with transport personnel who are equally clueless. No detail of what patient s medical history. Only one word llike .. leg pain. Or blood clots, wounds etc nothing else. Exam wasn’t helpful. Because the term blood clot can be many things

I strongly recommend if your parents are in nursing home and they are not the sharpest mentally anymore, please go to dr appointment with them. Nursing home usually could not careless. Sometimes I even have to call NH to confirm medication. The beginning of my career, I call NH to ask how pt was doing etc. but no one could actually answer me so I stopped calling .

Op here, Thank you all.

I've had my parents call me and put the phone on speaker while they were at doctors appointments. It's usually the big ones - prostate biopsy results, dementia, etc. I don't call in for a cold or bloodwork or standard things.

If parent is 70 and sharp they still need a list of questions and concerns. We have used those always, since our 40s. You get flustered and forget stuff without a list. We print 2 and send one to doc in advance over portal.

Yes. Take notes. Have list of questions and concerns abd make sure each is addressed

As others have said, if they are elderly and showing some level of decline, or don’t speak English well. If your parent is 70 and sharp, nope.

Yes. My dad is 92 and in great cognitive shape for his age, but he benefits from having a second pair of ears in the room and someone to ask questions he may not be considering in the moment. He wants me and my brother there, and we go out of our way to accommodate that.

Yes. He is a poor historian, so to get an accurate picture they need my input. He also need physical help.

Anonymous wrote:I am so used to going into exam room with my kids that I feel it’s norm to have someone in, but realize that my mom is adult. Also come from culture where privacy is not emphasized and it’s acceptable for a family member to join a relative in exam room.

Just wonder what is the norm here? Do you go in with your parent into doctor exam room if parent is ok with it?

If your parent is okay with it, you should go.

I did with my dad at the end. He was starting to mentally decline and it helped for me to understand what was going on.

I do because my mom does not speak or understand English, so I am the translator and help her for all appointments.

I did with my mom. She was fine with it. She didn’t have dementia but sometimes misinterpreted what the doctors recommended.

Yes with my dad who has dementia.

I am so used to going into exam room with my kids that I feel it’s norm to have someone in, but realize that my mom is adult. Also come from culture where privacy is not emphasized and it’s acceptable for a family member to join a relative in exam room.

Just wonder what is the norm here? Do you go in with your parent into doctor exam room if parent is ok with it?