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.

095 – Interview: Hearing Aids & Other Hearing Loss Treatment Options

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks about hearing aids and other ways to address hearing loss with Meg Wallhagen, PhD, Professor of Gerontological Nursing at UCSF’s School of Nursing. She is a nationally recognized expert on hearing loss and has been on the board of the Hearing Loss Association of America since 2010. This episode is Part 2 of a two-part series on hearing loss. They discuss:

Why people may be entitled to workplace accommodations to address hearing loss
What should take place during an initial audiology evaluation
How audiologists adjust and fit hearing aids, and what to expect from a good audiology provider
What to expect from using hearing aids
Common hearing aid options to consider, & how to choose a hearing aid
Why it’s good to get a hearing aid with a telecoil
Why the brain needs time to adjust to hearing aids & why it’s essential to use them regularly
Who shouldn’t get hearing aids
Why a “Pocket Talker” can be a good option for people with dementia
Other alternatives to hearing aids, such as special phones
Why it’s important to address hearing loss sooner rather than later
Other simple ways to improve communication with older adults with hearing loss
Recent developments in over-the-counter hearing aids and personal sound amplification products (PSAPs)

[Read more…]

094 – Interview: Hearing Loss in Aging: Why It Matters & Getting Evaluated

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks about how we can help older adults address hearing loss with Meg Wallhagen, PhD, Professor of Gerontological Nursing at UCSF’s School of Nursing. She is a nationally recognized expert on hearing loss and has been on the board of the Hearing Loss Association of America since 2010. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part series on hearing loss. They discuss:

Why hearing loss in aging usually causes distortion of sounds, and how that affects understanding speech (and grandchildren)
Why it usually doesn’t help to speak more loudly to someone with hearing loss
How hearing loss affects the health, wellbeing, and social relationships of older adults
Why older people often don’t want to address hearing loss
The problem of healthcare professionals overlooking hearing loss
How hearing loss affects brain function
Why it can become harder to successfully address hearing loss once it’s severe
How hearing loss should be evaluated and what happens during a hearing test
Why poor Medicare coverage of hearing loss often creates barriers to care
How Professor Wallhagen’s brochure can help older adults agree to address hearing loss

[Read more…]

093 – Interview: Hiring In-Home Care for Aging in Place: What to Know

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Michelle Allen, LCSW, about what families should know, when they want to obtain or hire in-home care to help an older person with aging in place. Michelle is an experienced social worker and geriatric care manager based in Atlanta, and is a featured expert providing guidance in Dr. K’s Helping Older Parents Membership Community. They discuss:

How geriatric social workers (and geriatric care managers) help older adults and families address aging issues
Why families and older adults usually seek out privately paid in-home care
Why most of the home care services older adults need to age in place are not covered by Medicare
What is “home health care,” and how to get Medicare to pay for certain medically skilled home services
What to know about hiring paid in-home caregivers
The pros and cons of hiring through an agency versus hiring an individual caregiver
Why families have to pay taxes, if they hire someone without going through an agency
Common mistakes that families make, when hiring in-home help to assist an older person
Why aging in place may not work out, and how to plan for other options
The benefits of working with “life care planning” elder law firms, which provide geriatric care coordinators such as Michelle

[Read more…]

092- Interview: Addressing Nighttime Urination & Insomnia in Aging

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with geriatrician Shachi Tyagi, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburg. Her research focuses on two common issues in older adults, insomnia and having to urinate at night (nocturia). They discuss:

Why nocturia becomes common as we age
Common health problems that may be related to nocturia
The relationship between nocturia and sleep problems
How nocturia should be assessed and how it can be managed
“Brief behavioral treatment” and other recommended insomnia treatments that can also improve nocturia
Why sleep medications should be avoided in aging
How to reduce the risk of nighttime falls related to nocturia
Options for addressing nocturia and sleep issues in dementia
Tips on tracking bladder and sleep symptoms, and how to get help from your health providers

[Read more…]

091 – Interview: Reducing the Risk of Power of Attorney Abuse

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

In This Episode:

Dr. K speaks with senior attorney David Godfrey, JD, of the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, about drafting better power of attorney documents so as to reduce the risk of abuse. David works closely with the National Center on Law and Elder Rights and authored an issue brief in 2018 that covers advance planning and how to avoid exploitation. They discuss:

What is a general durable power of attorney (POA) and why every person should complete one
Common reasons why older adults may need someone else to transact business for them, such as temporary or permanent incapacity
Why court intervention may be necessary if an older person does not have a POA
How POAs can be used for financial exploitation, and how drafting protections in the POA document can reduce the risk of abuse
6 key precautions to take, when drafting a general durable power of attorney
How requiring third party accounting can reduce family conflict
Why it’s a good idea to require a second signature for major transactions
The benefits of granting the power to revoke the POA to a third party
How older adults can find affordable legal assistance, for help drafting a POA
Options for older adults who have no close family available to serve as an agent
Resources to help guide agents to manage power of attorney duties

[Read more…]

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