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.

071 – Interview: How Estimating Life Expectancy Helps Older Adults Get Better Care

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

071 – Interview: How Estimating Life Expectancy Helps Older Adults Get Better Care

00:00 / 1:06:44

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Sei Lee, MD, an expert on prognosis and using estimated life expectancy to improve medical care for older adults. Dr. Lee is an Associate Professor in the UCSF Division of Geriatrics. They discuss:

What the term “prognosis” means, especially when it comes to older adults
Why a person’s likely life expectancy should be used to tailor medical care
How the answers to simple questions can be used to predict mortality
Why even a good life expectancy calculator can’t make exact predictions for a specific person
Common forms of medical care that may not be worth doing, if life expectancy is limited
Why it’s important to reconsider intensive diabetes treatment
How the Eprognosis.org website can help people learn whether cancer screening is still likely to benefit them
The challenges of discussing prognosis and life expectancy with older adults
Examples of how we can better focus medical care on “what matters the most”

[Read more…]

070 – Interview: Addressing & Preventing Financial Exploitation in Aging

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 6 Comments

Better Health While Aging

070 – Interview: Addressing & Preventing Financial Exploitation in Aging

00:00 / 1:14:38

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with attorney Candace Heisler, JD, an expert on addressing financial exploitation and other forms of elder abuse. Ms. Heisler served as assistant district attorney for the City and County of San Francisco for over 25 years, and remains active in training various professionals to address elder abuse. They discuss:

What it means to financially exploit an older person
The role of trust and relationships in facilitating financial exploitation
Why it can be hard to determine whether financial abuse has occurred
What to do if you suspect that an older relative has been financially exploited
The role of Adult Protective Services in investigating worrisome situations
The difference between pursuing a criminal case versus a civil case
What is “undue influence” and how it’s related to financial abuse
Steps older adults can take to reduce their risk of being financially exploited
How to reduce the risk of that a power of attorney might be misused

[Read more…]

069 – Evaluating Memory & Thinking Problems:
10 Causes & 10 Things to Check

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

Better Health While Aging

069 – Evaluating Memory & Thinking Problems:
10 Causes & 10 Things to Check

00:00 / 46:12

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what should happen during an initial medical evaluation when an older person develops memory or thinking problems. She covers:

What is cognitive impairment and why it’s important to get a medical evaluation
What kind of cognitive changes are considered normal with aging
10 common health issues that can affect memory and thinking
10 things a health provider should generally do, during an initial evaluation for cognitive impairment
The key things the initial evaluation should address
Whether to expect a definitive diagnosis
What to expect from your health providers

[Read more…]

068 – Interview: Putting Older Adults at the Center of Technology Conversations

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

Better Health While Aging

068 – Interview: Putting Older Adults at the Center of Technology Conversations

00:00 / 53:39

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Richard Caro, PhD, a co-founder of Tech-Enhanced Life, who facilitates ongoing “Longevity Explorer” meetings in which older adults come together to discuss interests, challenges, and new technologies. They discuss:

Why Richard and his colleagues decided to start these peer-to-peer technology conversations among older adults
The types of technologies and challenges that older adults have brought up
What some Longevity Explorers thought of Alexa and other technologies
Why innovators and businesses should tap into the insights of older adults
The importance of purpose and engagement in late life
How to find or start a Longevity Explorers group in your area
Tech-Enhanced Life’s recent work on helping companies co-design with older adults, and now also family caregivers

[Read more…]

067 – Interview: Managing Difficult Alzheimer’s Behaviors Without Medications

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

067 – Interview: Managing Difficult Alzheimer's Behaviors Without Medications

00:00 / 1:01:06

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Paula Spencer Scott, a family life expert and the author of Surviving Alzheimer’s: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers. They discuss:

Paula’s personal experiences caring for her father and her in-laws affected by dementia
Why she didn’t write a memoir, and instead opted to focus on featuring Alzheimer’s experts and practical caregiving how-tos
The “Why-This, Try-This” approach to troubleshooting challenging dementia behaviors
Why it’s so important to learn to better respond to dementia behaviors, and only use medication as a last resort
A 7-step process that you can use to safely manage difficult Alzheimer’s behaviors
Why it’s important to “be kinder than you feel” (and be kinder to yourself)

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066 – Interview: Addressing Potential Self-Neglect in Older Adults

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

066 – Interview: Addressing Potential Self-Neglect in Older Adults

00:00 / 52:10

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Aanand Naik, MD, a geriatrician with a special interest in self-neglect and vulnerability among older adults. Dr. Naik is Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and recently authored the chapter “Evaluating Capacity for Safe and Independent Living Among Vulnerable Older Adults” in the textbook “Ethical Considerations and Challenges in Geriatrics.” They discuss:

What does “self-neglect” mean, and what are the related risks?
How common is self-neglect in older adults?
What are some common signs that might indicate self-neglect?
What does it mean to be able to manage one’s self-care and self-protection?
What can you do if you’re concerned about potential self-neglect in an older person?
How can doctors and other health professionals help address possible self-neglect?
What is the role of Adult Protective Services in addressing this issue?
When might the courts become involved?

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065 – Reconsidering “Successful Aging”

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

065 – Reconsidering "Successful Aging"

00:00 / 24:26

In This Episode:

For Older Americans Month, Dr. K reflects on what it means to “successfully age,” and how we might help older adults accordingly. She covers:

How our conception of “successful” or “better” aging influences the way we judge others and ourselves
How the media and others often depict successful aging, and why this is problematic
A different model of success in aging which puts more emphasis on adapting to — rather than managing to avoid — common age-related challenges
Why aging might be less about individual choices than many people think
How we might better appreciate older adults for their resilience and adaptations to late-life challenges

[Read more…]

064 – What to Know About Constipation & Laxatives

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

Better Health While Aging

064 – What to Know About Constipation & Laxatives

00:00 / 52:20

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains how older adults and families can prevent and manage constipation, including how to safely and effectively use over-the-counter laxatives. She covers:

What exactly does it mean to be constipated, and why is it more common with aging
The most common causes of constipation, and which “red flag” signs shouldn’t be ignored
Medications that often make constipation worse
How constipation should be evaluated and treated
The laxative myth you shouldn’t believe
3 types of over-the-counter laxative that work, and the one that doesn’t
Why she often recommends prunes
What to do if you’re concerned about constipation for yourself or someone else

[Read more…]

063 – Giving Yourself (And Your Family) a Gift on National Healthcare Decisions Day

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

063 – Giving Yourself (And Your Family) a Gift on National Healthcare Decisions Day

00:00 / 39:14

In This Episode:

Dr. K shares a personal story and explains why it’s so important to take the time to talk with others and make plans to provide others with guidance, since most of us will at some point be unable to make our own healthcare decisions. She covers:

The importance of National Healthcare Decisions Day
What “advance care planning” means, and why it’s more than completing legal forms
Four key steps in advance care planning
Why it’s essential to have conversations with others, including with healthcare providers and with family
Two free online tools you can use to guide you through reflection, conversations, and completing paperwork
Five common pitfalls to avoid if possible
Five questions you can ask yourself, every April when it’s National Healthcare Decisions Day

[Read more…]

062 – Interview: Preventing Hospital Delirium & Maintaining Brain Health

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 10 Comments

Better Health While Aging

062 – Interview: Preventing Hospital Delirium & Maintaining Brain Health

00:00 / 57:35

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with geriatrician Sharon Inouye, MD MPH, a nationally-known expert on delirium who is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Aging Brain Center at the Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife. They discuss:

What is delirium and what are common symptoms of delirium
What are common causes of delirium, and what can make it worse
How Dr. Inouye became interested in studying delirium
The difference between delirium and dementia, and how the two conditions are related
The problem with using restraints and bed alarms, when someone is delirious
How to treat delirium, and how to keep a person safe while delirious
How the Hospital Elder Life Program helps reduce delirium (by 40-60% in some studies!)
Why many hospitals still don’t have a HELP program
The most effective ways to maintain brain health while aging

[Read more…]

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