How do I go about getting the right care for my father?
I am not a doctor or nurse; I am a geriatric care manager with almost 20 years of experience assisting families with older relatives improve their lives. My advice is to have an appointment with a geriatrician. This is a physician that has taken advanced training on how to work with older bodies. You may need to go into a larger town for this type of appointment but I believe it will be worth your effort; you may have to go only once. The expert's report can be sent to your regular physician, who can implement it.
Stay away from homeopathic remedies. Someone makes lots of money from these but they are not usually worth the money. This industry is unregulated, you will never know what is in the bottle. They can interact with prescribed medications and do some damage.
Seroquel has been great with all the people I work with. It helps reduce agitation and promotes sleep without the side effects of sleeping medications.
Check your father's water intake. Dehydration is dangerous and can cause some of the symptoms you mention. But the most important thing is to have him evaluated by a expert in older bodies!
Your father's ejection fraction should be tested every 6 months. Go over your physician's head and make the necessary appointments. If dad is enrolled in an HMO or other Medicare Advantage programs, wait until Nov 15, and get him out by enrolling in regular Medicare. Most of the medical schools and specialists will not accept reimbursement from any except Medicare.
