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.

075 – Preventing Falls: 4 Approaches to Ask Your Doctor About

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

075 – Preventing Falls: 4 Approaches to Ask Your Doctor About

00:00 / 27:19

In This Episode:

Dr. K reviews her four most used fall prevention approaches, which are routine in geriatrics care but are often overlooked by busy primary care providers. She covers:

The three questions about falls that PCPs should be asking older adults
How the CDC’s STEADI fall prevention algorithm can help you understand what your health provider should be doing
Why medication review is an essential part of fall prevention
The importance of checking blood pressure sitting and standing
How a physical therapy evaluation can help
The recent research suggesting Tai Chi helps prevent falls
How to get a good home safety assessment done
Why Vitamin D is no longer recommended for fall prevention (but is still worth taking)

[Read more…]

074 – Interview: How the Village Model Supports Aging in Place & Community

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

074 – Interview: How the Village Model Supports Aging in Place & Community

00:00 / 1:01:36

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with UC Berkeley Professor Andrew Scharlach about his work studying the Village Model and other approaches to supporting aging in place. He is an expert on creating aging-friendly communities and formerly directed Berkeley’s Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services. They discuss:

What is a Village and what’s usually included in the Village model
How Villages differ from Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs)
The grassroots history of the first Village and the growth of the Village model
Why aging in community may be a better goal than aging in place
Why Professor Scharlach and his colleagues decided to study Villages, and what they’ve learned so far
How Villages appear to benefit their members
How the goals and ambitions of Villages have evolved over time
How Villages manage funding and other challenges
Whether Villages are a good fit for people who are frail or declining
Whether Villages really do prevent unwanted relocations

[Read more…]

073 – Anticholinergic Medications & Protecting Brain Health

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH Leave a Comment

Better Health While Aging

073 – Anticholinergic Medications & Protecting Brain Health

00:00 / 27:18

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains what older adults and families should know about anticholinergic medications and their negative impact on brain health. Many commonly used over-the-counter and prescription medications are anticholinergic, and on the Beer’s List of Medications Older Adults Should Avoid or Use With Caution. She covers:

What it means for a medication to be anticholinergic
The evidence linking anticholinergics with confusion, delirium, and dementia
Seven commonly used types of medication that are quite anticholinergic
Why it’s important to minimize anticholinergics if you’re worried about memory or have been diagnosed dementia
How you can determine whether you or your parent’s medications are anticholinergic
What to do, if you or an older person you care for is taking an anticholinergic medication

[Read more…]

072 – Cognitive Aging: How Memory & Thinking Change as One Gets Older

by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH 2 Comments

Better Health While Aging

072 – Cognitive Aging: How Memory & Thinking Change as One Gets Older

00:00 / 47:04

In This Episode:

Dr. K explains how memory and thinking change as one gets older, due to normal cognitive aging. She covers:

How cognitive aging is different from a neurodegenerative process such as Alzheimer’s disease
6 ways that memory, other mental processes, and emotional processing change with aging
Why certain mental tasks become harder in late life
The difference between fluid and crystallized intelligence
Worrisome signs that should not be attributed to normal cognitive aging
Practical ways to maintain better brain function, and to compensate for normal age-related changes

[Read more…]

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 4 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)

[Read more…]

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?

[Read more…]

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