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The Consequences of Missed Medical Appointments for Seniors

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Medical appointments, including GP, specialist, dentist, and allied health appointments, play an important role in aging well. However, senior Australians may miss medical appointments leading to untreated illness, worsening of health conditions, a failure to identify health conditions before they become problematic, hospitalisation, or even death. At Home Care Assistance, we understand there a variety of reasons why a person may miss a medical appointment with each reason having a different solution. Below we discuss both reasons for missing a medical appointment as well as possible solutions.

Reasons for Missing Medical Appointments

These include:

  1. Difficulty getting to an appointment due to physical or transportation barriers. Seniors who do not drive may not have an easy way to get to an appointment. Further, their physical health may mean they are not confident travelling to the medical appointment by themselves.
  2. Not understanding the importance of attending medical appointments.
  3. Difficulty making the appointment. This may be because the person has trouble hearing on the phone, or for some other reason such as feeling daunted when trying to set up an appointment time.
  4. Fear. Sometimes senior people – like any person – may avoid medical appointments due to concern regarding what they are likely to be told, and the potential impact of that information.
  5. Financial barriers. With rising costs of living, up to half of senior Australians have missed some type of medical appointment whether it be a GP, dentist, specialist, or allied health professional.[1] However, the financial consequences of missing medical appointments tend to be higher than attending the appointment.

Potential Solutions for Missed Medical Appointments

If your loved one is missing their medical appointments, the first step is to find out the reason why. To encourage your loved one to be open with you, it is important to have this conversation in a calm manner with plenty of time to talk.  This gives them time and space to talk about why they are not attending the appointments. Possible solutions for the above reasons why medical appointments are not being attended include:

  1. Arrange transport. This could be taking the person to the appointment yourself or arranging for someone else to take them. It could also involve booking a taxis or Uber for the person. Alternatively, our Care Professionals at Home Care Assistance can provide transport to medical appointments as part of an in-home care package.
  2. Explain why the appointments are necessary. If your loved one does not feel appointments are necessary, explain to them the negative consequences of not attending appointments to help the understand why they should go.
  3. Make the appointment for them. If your loved one is not able to make the appointment, offer to make an appointment time for them.
  4. Provide support. If your loved one is fearful of attending a medical appointment, offer to go with them and reassure them that you will be there to support them regardless of the outcome.
  5. Look into financial assistance. Check to see if there are any subsidies or care plans your loved one might be eligible for if they are experiencing financial difficulties.

Attending medical appointments is an important part of aging well but remember, you cannot force someone to attend an appointment. If your loved one is not attending their medical appointments, have an open discussion to find out why and then you may be able to solve the issue. Our Care Professionals from Home Care Assistance can provide practical support in attending appointments as needed.

Support of an in-home care agency like Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefit and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home.  Home Care Assistance has viable solutions when it comes to supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with a Home Care Assistance near me today.  


[1] https://healthcarechannel.co/financial-constraints-lead-to-missed-healthcare-appointments-among-australians-over-50/

As a leading age care provider, Home Care Assistance offers tailored in-home care services for older Australians, enabling them to live happier and healthier lives in the comfort of their own homes

We offer private and government subsidised Care Packages and have office locations that are a registered NDIS provider. Our Care Workers undergo extensive training in order to deliver unmatched in-home aged care services where people can continue ageing in place. We are proud ambassadors of the My Aged Care government funded aged care program, enabling Australians to successfully navigate the process and gain approval for in-home care support packages. Home Care Assistance offers hourly care, specialised care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, hospital to home care, and 24 hour in home care.

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Amazing service with great workers and excellent team managing funds sufficiently. Highly recommend this company
I looked long and thoroughly before I selected a care provider for my husband who has dementia. Being with Home Care Assistance for almost a year, has confirmed all my expectations. And more.As a... carer I feel very supported by David and Meg. They are always available by phone or email, and this means a lot. But perhaps the best quality of their organisation is the high calibre and personalised choice of all the care givers they have provided for us - whether it be someone to spend time with my husband or someone to slash our overgrown yard.I have no hesitation in recommending Home Care Assistance - and, indeed, have already done so.Pamela Payneread more
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Great service, lovely people
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High quality, unique approach with a customised care plan to promote independence and client satisfaction.
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They are great
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My carer Beccy was perfectly matched to my needs. Michelle & Jourdan are always helpful & I couldn't live comfortably at home without the care from Home Care Assistance Gold Coast.
Home Care Assistance North Coast has really put the CARE back into my aged care experience for my mother.Right from the beginning communication with management (David and Meg) has been excellent... with all of my requests and questions answered patiently, promptly and cheerfully.Due to Home Care Assistance's policy of tender care my mother has had hand massages, foot baths and massages, diversional therapy involving music and art, poetry and encouraging Mum to interact positively.Domestic tasks are attended to cheerfully.Blue ribbon service and red carpet treatment for their valued clients. Highly recommended!read more
A positive experience of co-ordinated care and provision of support services to meet my high care level of needs.
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The team at Home Care Assistance are extremely caring towards their people and ensure every client has the best quality of life possible. They are a genuine, honest local organisation that would... recommend any of my family members use to manage their home care package.Highly recommend Traci and the team at Home Care Assistanceread more
Homecare assistance is a high quality company run by friendly and highly qualified faces, I could not recommend the company enough to those who need it
Great company warm friendly staff
Exceptional service from carer Rebecca. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Michelle & her service in caring for your loved ones.
The whole team at Home Care Assist are amazing. I can't begin to tell you how much help Geoff Doherty was to me when I was trying to navigate the Aged Care process. The Coffs Harbour team led by... Rachael, who is a wonderful caring and helpful manager, is an absolute gem. My every need is taken into consideration and the staff employed to do the actual caring/cleaning are second to none. Nothing is too much trouble. I need Physio and Hydrotherapy services and Emily, who is also a absolute gem always pays the providers promptly and they are very grateful for that. I would highly recommend this service to anyone looking for Caring, Compassionate, timely and reliable care.read more
Megan is very good care manager.
So blessed. Such a wonderful team to take care of me, keeping my life simple and enabling the very best I could wish for. Thank you, Meg and Dave!
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This is the best home care company in Australia !
Dave and the team go above and beyond to ensure your loved one receives the best possible care
Great team
Yes Folks it's all true, you've found the best Age Care Provider on the Gold Coast.Flash Jourdan Lofthouse and his Merry staff are doing great work for my mum and several of her close friends.... Ramps, railings, shower ensuite, cleaning, gardening all set up nicely. All in a days work and carefully costed. When you meet and chat to Jourdan you'll be happy to sign up. Julieread more
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excellent staff and great service!
Great company, would definitely recommend. The employees are superb
I am very satisfied with the carers who take care of my wife. They are not only experienced but very compassionate and understanding of my wife’s needs. They are always positive and easy to deal... with. I would have no problems recommending the company to other potential clients.read more
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The most helpful, caring, supportive and flexible team of people to assist with our elderly loved ones.I am so grateful for all you had done for my Mum.... ❤️❤️❤️read more
Would recommend

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