I am a full-time caretaker for my father. He’s bedridden for the most part and I’m very concerned because I think he has a tooth abscess. I know he needs treatment very soon, but I don’t know what to do because I can’t transfer him to a wheel chair myself, let alone get him in a car. How can I get him treatment? — Marcie
Dear Marcie,
An abscess is definitely not something to brush off – especially for someone like your dad who is frail and elderly. If his immune system is compromised, an infection can spread very quickly and could easily become a life-threatening situation.
If your dad has a dentist that he has seen in the past, give the office a call and see if they can prescribe an antibiotic without seeing him first. If you can get him started on the medication, you can then work on a plan to get the tooth examined. Does your city have a medical transport company? If you can get your dad in a wheel chair (with the help of someone), he could be transported in a wheel chair-accessible van. Many city buses also have handicap access as well or they might even have specialized vehicles that could transport an individual. Insurance benefits often provide low-cost/no-cost transportation services and should be able to help you find something in your local area. In any case, this is a dental emergency and your dad needs treatment sooner, rather than later.
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