The Better Health While Aging Podcast

Get practical health tips from a geriatrician and other experts! We discuss common health problems that affect people over age 60, the best ways to prevent and manage those problems, and we also often address common concerns and dilemmas that come up with aging parents and other older loved ones.

082- Interview: Bill Thomas on Housing & Communities as Engines of Independence in Aging

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with geriatrician Bill Thomas, MD, founder of ChangingAging.org. They discuss his recent efforts to “escape from the gerosphere” and focus on aging as late-life development, by changing our stories about aging and fostering better housing and communities. They cover:

What are the general misconceptions and assumptions of aging
Changing the narrative from “aging problems” to “later life development”
Why housing and communities are engines of independence and are essential to better aging
Why we should focus on creating MAGIC: Multi-Ability, multi-Generational, Inclusive Communities
What to say to older adults who want to live in homes that aren’t serving them well
Why you should consider whether your home is “future-proofed”
What is a Minka house
Changing Aging’s current projects innovating with Minka and MAGIC
How and why we should address ableism and ageism, including within ourselves
Co-housing and other options for older adults interested in better places to live and grow older

[Read more…]

081 – Interview: How to Plan Ahead for Your Later Years

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with family caregiving expert Carol Levine, Director of the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund of New York about her new book, “Navigating Your Later Years for Dummies .” They discuss:

How to be proactive about your current and future age-related needs
Why it’s vital to start by taking a personal inventory of your preferences and resources
How your financial situation affects your housing and care options in later life
Why it’s especially helpful to discuss your finances and your living will with family
Pros and cons of aging in your own long-time home
Why it’s important to know that Medicare doesn’t cover most long-term care services
Planning tips for those aging alone or without family support
The value of aging within a community and maintaining a support network
How Carol has talked with her own children & planned for her own aging
How to avoid getting overwhelmed by the process

[Read more…]

080 – Interview: Smartwatches as Medical Alert Devices
(What to Know & How to Choose)

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Richard Caro, PhD, a co-founder of Tech-Enhanced Life, who recently spent a few weeks carefully testing and reviewing four types of smartwatches that can serve as medical alert devices in the event of a fall or other personal health emergency. They discuss:

The Tech-Enhanced Life approach to evaluating innovations and newer technologies
The problem with existing medical alert devices
What key things to consider, when choosing a personal emergency response system (PERS) device and service
Why Richard and Dr. K recommend automatic fall-detection in a medical alert device
Which four smartwatch devices Richard selected for further testing
The difference between the Apple Watch 3 and 4, when it comes to using them as a medical alert
Why most medical alert services charge a monthly fee
How these newer smartwatch devices compare to more traditional PERS devices
The benefits of being able to “practice” summoning help
Richard’s preferred combo of medical alert features that no smartwatch offers (yet)
What to keep in mind if considering a medical alert for someone with dementia

[Read more…]

079 – QA: Advice for Older Parents Frustrated by Their Family’s Concerns

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 3 Comments

In This Episode:

Dr. K addresses an older parent’s concerns and frustrations regarding her son’s attempts to help her with her health, and their differing views on what she needs. She covers:

What to do if you’re an older parent frustrated by your adult child’s concerns for you
How to communicate better and help your family understand what matters most to you
Why it’s essential to address goals, priorities, and advance planning
Why everyone needs to think about acceptance and boundaries
The importance of fostering a stronger relationship and more connectedness
Why older adults should be very careful about entirely cutting off their adult children
How to negotiate a better way forward, and how to get help doing so

[Read more…]

078 – Interview: The Biology of Aging & Longevity

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with geriatrician and geroscientist John Newman, MD PhD, about the biology of aging and his research on ketogenic diets and geriatric syndromes. Dr. Newman is an assistant professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and in the Division of Geriatrics at UCSF. He also works on improving the hospital care of older adults. They discuss:

How aging biology research helps us understand fundamental aging processes that affect all animals
The complex relationship between aging and disease, and what is the geroscience hypothesis
Cellular hallmarks of aging, and biomarkers to assess physiological age
How we can assess someone’s physiological age
Why biomarkers of aging aren’t as useful as functional assessments of older people
How insulin, fasting, and other aspects of metabolism are related to aging
What Dr. Newman has learned from studying ketones and aging in mice
What is known about ketogenic diets in humans
What’s been shown to improve healthspan and lifespan (in mice)
Why metformin, a diabetes drug, is a “really good drug”
Why things that slow aging in the lab may not work in humans or under real-world conditions

[Read more…]

The Better Health While Aging Podcast

In This Episode:

In This Episode:

In This Episode:

In This Episode:

In This Episode:

Disclaimer