You also should talk with family members so that they understand your wishes. Although family problems can be painful to discuss, talking about them can help your doctor help you. Your doctor may be able to suggest steps to improve the situation for you and other family members. If you feel you are being mistreated in some way, let your doctor know. Some older people are subjected to abuse by family members or others.
Abuse can be physical, verbal, psychological, or even financial in nature.
Your doctor may be able to provide resources or referrals to other services that can help you if you are being mistreated. An advance directive is a document that allows you to state your preferences about your care if you were to become too seriously ill to make your wishes known. Examples of advance directives include living wills and durable health care powers of attorney. If you feel uncomfortable with something your doctor or the doctor's staff has said or done, be direct. If you have a long-standing relationship with your doctor, working out the problem may be more useful than looking for a new doctor.