Episode Archive - Page 15 of 18 - Better Health While Aging

036 – Interview: Minimizing Family Conflicts & Supporting Aging Parents

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

036 – Interview: Minimizing Family Conflicts & Supporting Aging Parents

00:00 / 1:07:32

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Janet Benvenuti, a family caregiving expert who is the founder of Circle of Life Partners and the author of “Don’t Give Up on Me: Supporting Aging Parents Successfully.” They discuss:

Janet’s experience becoming responsible for her parents’ financial affairs and medical care
How Janet and her siblings negotiated caregiving roles and conflicts
An exercise to help you map out your family’s resources to build a caregiving team
Why Janet wishes her family had done more advance planning related to housing
The role of personal care agreements and compensation in family caregiving
Janet’s tips on how boomers can set up a game plan for their own aging
How to use Janet’s book to help your family plan for aging

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035 – Interview: Aging in the Right Place

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

035 – Interview: Aging in the Right Place

00:00 / 58:32

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Stephen Golant, PhD, Professor of Geography at the University of Florida and the author of “Aging in the Right Place.” Dr. Golant has a doctorate in social gerontology and social geography, and is a well-known expert on the housing and long-term care needs of older adults. They discuss:

What is environmental gerontology, and why environment is so important to aging adults
How one’s housing, neighborhood, and community affect one’s ability to age well
Why older adults like to remain in their own homes
The problems many older adults encounter when they try to age in place, and what it means to “age in the right place”
A definition of successful aging
Why we shouldn’t reflexively promote aging in place, and what to encourage instead
How to determine where is the right place to age, and which questions older people should ask themselves
Why it may be better for seniors to live in a neighborhood of people their own age
Dr. Golant’s plan for where to live as he ages

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034 – Preventing Falls: 10 Types of Medication to Reconsider

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 1 Comment

Better Health While Aging

034 – Preventing Falls: 10 Types of Medication to Reconsider

00:00 / 38:13

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains ten types of medications that may be associated with falls in aging adults. These are the medications that experts including the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommend that doctors address during a medication review for fall prevention. This episode covers:

The four actions the CDC recommends that older adults do, to prevent falls
Why it’s so common for older adults to be on medications that may increase the risk for falls
What doctors are supposed to do, if an older person is taking one of these medications
Generic and brand names of the more commonly used medications that may be linked to falls
Tips on what to ask your doctor, if you or your older relative are taking any of these medications

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033 – Safer Treatments for Insomnia in Aging

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 4 Comments

Better Health While Aging

033 – Safer Treatments for Insomnia in Aging

00:00 / 25:20

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains how to safely treat insomnia in older adults, and why most seniors should avoid sleeping pills. She covers:

Why it’s essential to identify the cause(s) of sleep problems, before starting or continuing to use sleeping pills
Why over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids, such as diphenhydramine, benzodiazepines, and “z-drugs” such as zolpidem, are bad for memory and balance
Three proven insomnia treatments that are effective and safer than pills
Where to find cognitive-behavioral treatment for insomnia online
Approaches to treating sleep problems in people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias

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032 – 5 Top Causes of Sleep Problems in Aging

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

Better Health While Aging

032 – 5 Top Causes of Sleep Problems in Aging

00:00 / 25:20

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains the most common causes of insomnia and other sleep problems in older adults, and how to get them correctly diagnosed. She covers:

How sleep changes with normal aging
Common physical health and mental health problems that can affect sleep
What types of medications are especially associated with sleep difficulties
What to know about sleep apnea and sleep-related breathing disorders
Restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movements of sleep
What to do if you’re concerned about insomnia

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031 – Choosing the Safest Over-the-Counter Painkiller in Aging

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 4 Comments

Better Health While Aging

031 – Choosing the Safest Over-the-Counter Painkiller in Aging

00:00 / 26:18

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains which over-the-counter (OTC) painkiller is usually safest, and which analgesics are much riskier than people realize. She covers:

Why frequent aches and pains should always be evaluated by a doctor
Why harm from OTC painkillers is surprisingly common
Why acetaminophen (known as paracetamol outside the U.S.) is usually considered the safest OTC analgesic for older adults
Why non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen are on the Beer’s List of medications older adults should avoid or use with caution
The most common risks and side-effects of OTC painkillers, and how to avoid them
The special case of aspirin, which doctors no longer recommend as a painkiller
Tips on selecting an OTC painkiller and on working with your doctor to treat frequent pain in aging

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030 – Drugs for Difficult Dementia Behaviors: What to Know

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

030 – Drugs for Difficult Dementia Behaviors: What to Know

00:00 / 33:10

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what families should know about the five types of medications used to treat difficult behaviors in people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. She covers:

Why “chemical restraints” such as antipsychotics and tranquilizers are often prescribed inappropriately
How antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers, antidepressants work for dementia behaviors, and how much improvement to expect
Common side-effects to look out for
The pros and cons of each type of medication
Important non-drug approaches that can help with dementia behaviors, and why these should be used before resorting to medications
Tips and suggestions for families considering these drugs
What you can do if your relative with dementia is taking antipsychotics or tranquilizers

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029 – The Healthy Aging Checklist

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

Better Health While Aging

029 – The Healthy Aging Checklist

00:00 / 41:52

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains the six key things every older person should do, for healthier aging. She covers her recommendations for:

Promoting brain health and emotional well-being
Promoting physical health
Checking for and addressing commonly neglected senior health problems that can sabotage healthy aging
Optimizing the care of chronic medical conditions
Getting recommended preventive health services
Addressing medical, legal, and financial advance planning

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028 – When Older Parents Resist Help: 4 Tips for Better Talks

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 4 Comments

Better Health While Aging

028 – When Older Parents Resist Help: 4 Tips for Better Talks

00:00 / 25:20

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains four things family caregivers should try, for better conversations with older parents who are resisting help. She covers:

How cognitive problems often complicate family conversations
The importance of hearing and validating an older person’s emotions
How to discuss an older person’s goals, and why safety shouldn’t automatically be the top priority
Ways to respond when an older parent voices “unrealistic” goals, such as never having help at home
Why it’s important for family caregivers to identify their own fears and desires, when it comes to aging parents

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027 – Interview: Planning for Aging When Single & Childless

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 4 Comments

Better Health While Aging

027 – Interview: Planning for Aging When Single & Childless

00:00 / 28:28

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Carol Marak, founder of the Elder Orphans Facebook Group and editor of SeniorCare.com. They discuss aging issues facing those who have no spouse or adult children. They cover:

Carol’s experience with her own aging parents, which led her to think of her own future as an aging single woman with no children
The controversy around the term “elder orphan,” and why Carol finally chose to use it
Isolation, transportation difficulties, affordable housing, and other concerns that are often discussed in the Elder Orphans Facebook group
Why affordable housing that enables aging-in-community is so important
Cohousing and other options for aging-in-community
Choosing a power of attorney for health or finances
Carol’s top tips for elder orphans

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