Skip to main content

Seven Health Care Mistakes of Seniors

As we get older, we generally have more health concerns. For a long and healthy life we must handle our health issues properly. Seniors often make mistakes when dealing with their health. Here are seven of the biggest health care mistakes made by the elderly:

1. Failing to Hear or Understand your Doctor – If you did not hear what your doctor said, ask again. If you do not understand the directions, ask for them to be written down. If you are not sure what the doctor was talking about, ask for a simpler explanation. Don’t leave the doctor’s office until you understand what is wrong with you, and what you must do about it.

2. Failing to Discuss Problems with your Doctor – Some problems are embarrassing or personal, some seem minor or trivial. Discuss all issues with your doctor. Sexual or bathroom issues may be symptoms of serious diseases. Other problems show up as simple pains and upsets. Tell your doctor about all of your problems. Maybe your doctor can help, or catch a big problem while it is still small.

3. Fighting or Hiding Aging – Our vanity can get in the way of good health. If you refuse to wear your hearing aid or glasses you may miss something important or even hurt yourself. If you refuse to use your cane or other walking assistance, you risk serious injury. Don’t be so vain, use the tools that modern technology has given us.

4. Dangers at Home – We often fail to recognize how dangerous our homes can be. Scatter rugs, poor lighting, extension cords and other hazards could send you to a nursing home with broken bones. Consider having a senior housing consultant review your home for hazards.

5. Dangers on the Road – Our mobile society virtually requires a car. It was a rite of passage when you were a teenager, so giving up your car is like giving up your independence. But, many seniors reach a point where it is no longer safe for them to drive. There is no age limit, but if you have trouble seeing or reacting, then you may need to give up driving. Plan ahead for this issue.

6. Medication Problems – Set up a schedule or system so you take your proper medications. Get all of your medications at one pharmacy so your pharmacist can check them for interactions. Take a complete list of your medications to each doctor so your treatment can be coordinated.

7. Failing to Plan – Plan for needing assistance. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, either now or in the future. Plan with your family, your professional advisors, and your community. Plan for dealing with mobility issues. Plan for ill health and disability. Your friends and family are ready and willing to help you stay healthy and happy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Knee Surgery OK for Octogenarians

Knee replacement surgery can improve the quality of life even for very elderly patients, according to a study presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) . The study found that patients in their 80s can benefit both physically and socially from knee replacement surgery, also called total knee arthroplasty (TKA), once thought too risky for the very elderly. “As patients are living longer, there is an upward trend in the demand for quality of life among the elderly population,” said Edsel Arandia, M.D., lead author of the study and an orthopaedic surgeon at Philippine Orthopaedic Center and a Fellow at Singapore General Hospital. “As patients age, debilitating diseases like arthritis of the knee begin to develop. We conducted this study to determine the viability of TKA in octogenarians and to learn whether their quality of life improves after TKA.” Dr. Arandia and his team reviewed data from 128 patients older than 80 years of age wh...
Post a Comment
Read more

Clifton B. Kruse, Jr., Leading Elder Law Attorney, Dies at 74

Clifton B. Kruse , Jr., a revered elder law attorney who was admired as much for his kindness and generosity to fellow practitioners as for his grasp of the law, died December 30, 2008, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was 74. The cause was complications from Alzheimer's disease. For many in the field, Kruse set the standard for all that an elder law attorney can and should be. One of elder law's founding fathers, he combined a gentlemanly charm, warmth and caring with one of the sharpest and most ethical of legal minds. Wrote Arizona elder law attorney Robert Fleming in a tribute , "In my third of a century of elder law practice I have never met another lawyer who managed to pull together sophistication, heartfelt empathy, intellectual rigor and courtly manner in the same fashion Clifton Kruse projected. He did it, to all appearances, effortlessly. He was a friend and mentor to many in the elder law community (I count myself among those legions)." Kruse was the e...
1 comment
Read more

Dennis G. Browning Obituary

Dennis G. Browning , 59, of Tyngsboro, MA, passed away on March 19, 2012 at the Haverhill Hospice House after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of the late Michele L. (Orme) Browning. Born in Waltham, MA, January 3, 1959, a son of Charles L. and Herta M. (Kreuzer) Browning of Tyngsboro. He received his early education in Greece, and was a graduate of Tyngsboro High School with the Class of 1972. For many years, Mr. Browning progressed in a distinguished career as a technical lead at Centronics of Hudson, NH, before working as a landscaper, and most recently, as the property manager at his place of residence. He was also an assistant at the Adamsky Law Offices where he provided various services including Witness to Will signings. He was highly respected for his incredible work ethic. Dennis was a longtime, active member of the Tyngsboro Sportsmen's Club where he spent most of his time ensuring the club, its members, and especially the trout pond, were a...
Post a Comment
Read more