Practical information for aging health & family caregivers
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.
Dr. K speaks with Alzheimer’s expert Jason Karlawish, MD, Co-Director of the Penn Memory Center, about the new anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s medications lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla). Learn how biomarkers and other new developments have revolutionized the diagnosing of Alzheimer’s disease, and how these newer medications are being used to treat Alzheimer’s.
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Dr. K explains the oral medications most commonly used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, such as donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and memantine (brand names Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne, and Namenda. She explains the mechanisms, efficacy, and side effects of these drugs, along with practical considerations for their use in older adults. She also discusses other important aspects of Alzheimer’s treatment.
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Dr. K talks with fellow geriatrician and guest expert Chrissy Kistler, MD, discuss UTIs in two particular groups: older adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and those in nursing homes. They discuss the relationship between memory problems and UTIs, how to diagnose them when there’s confusion or weakness, and the role of asymptomatic bacteriuria (“colonized bladder”) in these cases.
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Dr. K talks with fellow geriatrician and guest expert Chrissy Kistler, MD, as they explore how UTIs change with age, the symptoms to watch for, and the best ways to prevent and treat them. Learn the difference between a true UTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria (also known as a “colonized bladder”) and why confusion is often mistaken for a UTI symptom. Learn when to take antibiotics for symptoms and when it’s probably unnecessary.
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Dr. K explains how to plan for aging and 3 key things to do, to avoid common aging problems she routinely sees families struggling with. Learn how to prevent and delay common problems, and how to plan for your own more successful aging. She also discusses the most common pathways at the end of life, and how to retain quality of life despite challenges.
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Dr. K talks with social worker Michelle Allen, LCSW, about the different parts of Medicare, what is Medicare Advantage, and how to check your coverage. They also explain Medicare Open Enrollment and what to do during this time, to keep out-of-pocket costs lower for the coming year. In this episode they cover:
Dr. K talks about atrial fibrillation (afib) with Cara Pellegrini, MD, a specialist in cardiac electrophysiology and an expert on the Watchman device and other ways to treat this common heart arrhythmia. They cover:
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Dr. K provides an update on COVID so far this year, and explains the available vaccines for the three respiratory viruses likely to be very active this fall and winter: COVID, influenza, and RSV. She also addresses other ways to protect oneself this winter.
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Note: For the masks Dr. K recommends, you can get the 3M V-flex here https://amzn.to/3OxrsRY, and the Powecom KN95 here https://amzn.to/3W9frXf
These are Amazon affiliate links, so any purchases will help support Better Health While Aging, thank you!
Dr. K explains what to know and what to do if you’re concerned about unsafe driving in an older adult, including when driving should stop and what to know if you’re dealing with Alzheimer’s or a related type of dementia. She covers:
Dr. K explains why the best dose of vitamin D for older adults is lower than you might think. She explains why vitamin D is important and how the latest research suggests that high doses of vitamin D might actually be risky for older adults. This episode covers:
This work by Leslie Kernisan MD & Better Health While Aging LLC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at BetterHealthWhileAging.net.
