Paging Dr. Hamblin: My Grandma Is Angry I Won’t Take Her to the Salon
Caregivers can’t deny seniors their agency, even during this pandemic.
Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, James Hamblin takes questions from readers about health-related curiosities, concerns, and obsessions. Have one? Email him at paging.dr.hamblin@theatlantic.com.
Dear Dr. Hamblin,
My grandmother recently lost her husband and son, and was in a car accident that broke her hip and back. Because she has significant hearing and vision loss, she was told she would never be able to drive again. She is in her late 80s, is underweight, and lives with many chronic health issues, including heart disease, kidney disease, colitis, and anemia. She’s also understandably depressed in light of her personal situation and the pandemic, which has made her more lonely living in an already-isolated rural area.
