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.

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

[Read more…]

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

[Read more…]

026 – 4 Medications for Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias: FAQs & Tips

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

026 – 4 Medications for Alzheimer's & Other Dementias: FAQs & Tips

00:00 / 37:45

In This Episode:

Only four medications are FDA-approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Dr. K explains how they work and addresses frequently asked questions. She covers:

The two different categories of medication that are FDA-approved, and how they work to help people with dementia
The different stages of dementia, and how this relates to the FDA-approval of these drugs
How well these drugs work, and what families can expect
Common side-effects of these medications
Whether these medications work for mild cognitive impairment
When to consider stopping these medications
Which vitamins might also help treat Alzheimer’s disease
Practical tips for people considering these medications or already taking them

[Read more…]

025 – Interview: Palliative Care to Live Well with Cancer

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

025 – Interview: Palliative Care to Live Well with Cancer

00:00 / 00:40:17

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Amy Berman, RN, Senior Program Officer at the John A. Hartford Foundation, who has been benefitting from palliative care ever since she was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in late 2010. They discuss:

Why palliative care is the best friend of the seriously ill, and doesn’t mean “giving up” care
How palliative care helps people align medical care with what’s most important to them
How palliative care has helped Amy maintain her quality of life, despite having incurable cancer
How palliative care complements — rather than replaces — usual treatments for cancer and other serious illnesses
The difference between palliative care and hospice
Why it’s worth looking for an oncologist who regularly partners with a palliative care team
Tips on accessing palliative care for yourself or your relatives

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024 – Interview: Better Cancer Screening While Aging

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

024 – Interview: Better Cancer Screening While Aging

00:00 / 28:00

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Louise Walter, MD, an expert on cancer screening in older adults and the Chief of the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California San Francisco. They discuss:

Why it’s important to consider life-expectancy, before pursuing cancer screening
How doctors and others can better estimate life-expectancy
Why cancer screening can be harmful to some older adults
Why it’s important for older people to ask “How soon will this help me?”
Why screening for prostate cancer with the “PSA” test is often problematic
Dr. Walter’s top tips on making sure you get cancer screening services that are right for you

[Read more…]

023 – Anemia in Aging: 10 Common Causes & What to Ask

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

023 – Anemia in Aging: 10 Common Causes & What to Ask

00:00 / 36:15

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what all older adults and families should know about anemia, a common health problem that is not always due to low iron levels. She covers:

How anemia is detected and diagnosed in aging adults
Symptoms of anemia
The most common causes of anemia, and the tests often used to check for them
How over-the-counter medications can cause anemia
What to ask the doctor
How to avoid common pitfalls related to the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia
How to get better follow-up, if you or your relative is diagnosed with anemia

[Read more…]

022 – QA: Helping a Paranoid Older Parent and Checking Safety

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 4 Comments

Better Health While Aging

022 – QA: Helping a Paranoid Older Parent and Checking Safety

00:00 / 46:30

In This Episode:

Dr. K responds to a reader’s question on assessing the safety of an older parent who has become paranoid and has started behaving differently. She covers:

Why delusions, hallucinations, and paranoid behavior are so common in older adults
The six “Ds” that cause paranoia and other forms of late-life psychosis
Why a medical evaluation to identify the causes of psychosis is so important
How to check on “levels of decline” and safety, using the Checking Older Parents Quick Start Guide
How to tell your parent’s doctor about the problems, even if your parent doesn’t want you to be involved
The best sources of useful advice and information, if you are concerned about a parent with signs of late-life psychosis
Tips on discussing these issues with a resistant parent

[Read more…]

021 – Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Risks, Diagnosis, & Treatment

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 8 Comments

Better Health While Aging

021 – Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Risks, Diagnosis, & Treatment

00:00 / 00:30:45

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what all older adults and family caregivers should know about the surprisingly common problem of vitamin B12 deficiency. She covers:

Common symptoms of low vitamin B12, such as anemia (low red blood cell count), neuropathy (nerve problems), and cognitive impairment
The role of vitamin B12 in the body
What causes pernicious anemia, which is a type of vitamin B12 deficiency
Which medications interfere with vitamin B12 absorption and can cause low levels
Other risk factors for having low vitamin B12
How to test for vitamin B12 deficiency, including when to test for methylmalonic acid
How this vitamin deficiency can be treated

[Read more…]

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