Dr. K discusses the current rise in COVID cases, the related risks for aging adults, what to know about the newest Omicron variants, and the most effective ways to take sensible precautions.
She covers: [Read more…]
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.
127 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (2.24.22 Edition)
In This Episode:
Dr. K discusses the ebbing of the Omicron surge, what to know about the “stealth” Omicron BA.2 (it has taken over in Denmark and is growing here), how to “live with COVID” safely, and more.
She covers: [Read more…]
126 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (1.6.22 Edition)
In This Episode:
This episode covers the latest on the ongoing Omicron surge, including whether it’s milder in older adults, what’s we’ve learned about rapid testing for Omicron, what to know about the current hospital situation, how to stay safer during the surge, and more.
The episode also addresses these FAQs: [Read more…]
125 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (12.16.21 Edition)
In This Episode:
This update covers Omicron, COVID boosters, plus how to search the CDC data to see just how well vaccines have worked, even in older adults. I also show the data demonstrating that vaccinated people age 80+ are still at higher risk of serious COVID than unvaccinated people under age 50; this is why fully vaccinated older adults should take precautions during the current surge!
(View the show notes page to watch my subtitled talk and my slides.)
This episode includes: [Read more…]
124 – Does Your Aging Parent Need Help?
What to check & how to talk about it
In This Episode:
Dr. K explains what to do if you’ve become worried about your aging parent, and are trying to figure out if they need help, or are unsure of what to do next. She covers:
- What mental changes are normal as people get older, and what’s not normal
- The three types of problems you’ll want to check for
- Specific signs to check for, to detect possible memory or thinking problems
- How to tell if your parent needs more help around the house or with their daily life
- The safety red flags I usually check for
- A more respectful and effective way to talk to your aging parent about how things are going
- What to stop doing and what to do instead, to reduce conflicts
