I guess that depends on your dh's overall health. My dh is still physically very healthy, even though he's probably in mid-late stage 6. So as long as he's healthy, I will take him for physicals, dental cleanings/checkups, etc. If he becomes ill with something serious, I would evaluate the effects of that illness and make decisions accordingly.
For us the choice was when he either could no longer comply with a procedure or when a med became a potential problem or giving it no longer made sense. For some preventive tests: if he could not/would not comply wih the testing, and/or with the treatment if the testing were positive there wasno sEnsE in attempting toi put him through it. Per our first HospiceExperience, some preventive meds (Cholesterol lowering are one kind) can become internal bleeding causing hazards when falls become an issue. Ditto the aspirin for preventive heart attack care. Basically you switch from preventive care thinking to immediate and critical care thinking.
I took my husband to the dentist when a crown came loose (he was at stage 6 and could still walk). The dentist fixed it, checked all of his teeth, did more repair work on other teeth, and afterwards told me that he was amazed that my husband stayed still and kept his mouth open so long. That unless a tooth broke, that he didn't think I needed to bring him any more.
I took him to the eye doctor until he couldn't distinguish the letters on the chart. In other words, he couldn't answer tell the doctor's questions. The doctor also said that there was no need to continue the eye drops that I had been giving him every day for several years.
Once his regular physician gave him his last physical, and then called Hospice to get on board, that was the last visit to his doctor. He told me if I needed anything or had any questions, to call him. At this point, the neurologist was the one we had been seeing every three months. Once Hospice came on board (two years before he died), we stopped the Lipitor, but I kept on with the Mirapex for a while for his leg twitches at night until the last few months, when the twitches stopped. I also stopped the aspirin a day when he went on Hospice.
You want to give him what is necessary for him not to suffer pain. Some of the caregivers continue the high blood pressure medicine. My husband was not on any because his blood pressure was normal. We do give medications for UTIs because that relieves their suffering and fever.
You need to do what you are comfortable doing. If you would feel guilt if you didn't give it to him, then by all means continue giving it to him. If you just want "permission" to stop because you know there is no need, then that is a different story.
Thanks guys, all good comments and I appreciate the responses. The thing is, dental work, redoing crowns, replacing a bridge, thousands of dollars. Dentures are not an option, with my DH that would be a nightmare.. DH says he doesn't think he needs anything done, his teeth feel fine. Trouble is, the DDS says there is decay under one crown and he doesn't know how much. Gads.. I know there is no right answer, just hate being caught up in it but I guess it is just beginning.
Last visit to pcp in April brought about a discussion of this kind. Until then dh was taking Crestor, Vitamin D, low-dose aspirin and vitamins. Dr. said to stop giving him these meds. DH is continuing to take heart meds and Paxil. DH absolutely won't take anything else so I had to pick my battles. If starts to refuse the heart meds so be it. The Paxil he will have to take somehow.
Two yrs. ago dh refused to see our regular dentist. I chose a new one. Two teeth had to be extracted and a small bridge redone. Dentist said he had decay under a very large bridge but everything considered said to leave that alone. Dentist's father suffered from AD also.
DH will not receive any anesthesia because a rapid decline could happen. Only a dire emergency will change that such as broken hip, etc.
I have a very understanding pcp who agrees totally with me.
DH sees the eye dr. twice a year but that is going to change. Has an appt. next month and I think once a year thereafter will be enough.
I wouldn't get crowns replaced, nor dentures. At this stage, if he doesn't have pain, I would not get dental work of that type done. That is my take.....as long as he can eat, that is what counts.
earthangel, I agree with Mary*. My DH had an upper denture, but he kept misplacing it & then after a while he would take it out when he ate & then he just took it out & left it out. He can eat pretty much anything (except steak). As far as the crown goes, if there is decay under it, it could be painful after a while & if the decay gets into the nerve the tooth could also need a root canal or have to be extracted. Two expensive procedures that he would have to endure. Depending on where the tooth is maybe an extraction would be a better option. But like Mary* said, if he isn't in pain you might just let it go for now.
I have declined the mamograms, PAP smears and colonoscopys for several years now. It took a while for the health plan's automatic notifications to stop notifying me they were over due. I donno how she would react to a dentist or eye exam. The opticiation suggested they could just copy her old lenses to replace the badly scratched ones. . . .
I treat nothing but injuries and pain. Seizures - I ride out because that is what they do at the ER along with drugs I don't want him to have and will not allow them to administer. The family doctor agrees. The doctor who monitors his coumadin also agrees and is not even concerned with the monthly bloodwork anymore. He seems to have a lot of headaches lately. If I had what is going on in his brain, my head would hurt too! I am going to try children's pain relievers. If that doesn't help, I may ask for some sublingual pain relief.