90 yr old pt: " a few months ago I set a goal that I would like to live to 100. I feel that if I set that goal and say it, the more likely it is to happen."
He went on to tell me that he told his goal to his dentist. His dentist said that his goal was a good one and that "there are a lot of 65 yr olds who just give up. If they are told they need a crown or a root canal or a filling, they respond with 'Why bother, I'll be dead soon anyways..' ".
This was such an interesting statement by my patient today because this morning I had a 64 yr old pt say to me that she is going to make an appointment to see her family doctor so she can fill out the forms for her to get a Scooter.
At the moment, she is able bodied, a bit over weight, and has some arthritis that is not debilitating (Osteoarthritis not Rhematoid).
I told her that often times I see pts that are able bodied and working to be more healthy, trying to lose weight etc, but feel that they need a scooter to give them that extra help. And as little as two months later I see a drastic decline in their health since they are not walking as much and exercise less. The desire is there but it becomes that much harder to achieve once they get a scooter, which they do not need.
She has been grappling with the idea of getting one because - right now she has coverage (I can go on about how certain systems promote unhealthiness than health), and that she looks at it as preparing for when she possibly cannot walk anymore due to her arthritis....
I suggested to the patient "Why not prepare to be healthy in the future, rather than preparing to be unhealthy."
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