Better Health While Aging

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Health & Fitness
**Better Health While Aging**

Practical information for aging health & family caregivers

Latest Episodes:

072 – Cognitive Aging: How Memory & Thinking Change as One Gets Older Aug 23, 2018

Show notes

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

Related episodes:

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

057 – How to Manage Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Better Brain Health

048 – How Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Affects Most Aging Brains

Related Resources:

6 Ways that Memory & Thinking Change with Normal Aging (& What to Do About This)
10 Early Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s (includes examples of normal aging)
How to Promote Brain Health: The Healthy Aging Checklist, Part 1
Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action (National Academy of Medicine Report)
- Cognitive Aging Action Guide for Individuals and Families
Pocket Talker

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071 – Interview: How Estimating Life Expectancy Helps Older Adults Get Better Care Aug 09, 2018

Show notes

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”

Related episodes:

024 – Interview: Better Cancer Screening While Aging

039 – Interview: Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems

054 – How to Make Difficult Decisions Easier: Using Goals of Care & Weighing Benefits vs Burdens

Related Resources:

Eprognosis.org
Dr. Sei Lee’s related research:
- Development and Validation of a Prognostic Index for 4-Year Mortality in Older Adults
- Prognostic Indices for Older Adults: A Systematic Review
Recommended news columns:
- The New Old Age (New York Times)
- Navigating Aging (Kaiser Health News)

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070 – Interview: Addressing & Preventing Financial Exploitation in Aging Jul 26, 2018

Show notes

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

037 – Interview: Using Powers of Attorney to Help Older Adults

Related Resources:

Financial Exploitation in Aging: What to Know & What to Do
Candace Heisler’s recommended resources:
Legal Services for the Elderly Program
National Academy of Medicine: Cognitive Aging: Progress in Understanding and Opportunities for Action
The New Yorker: My Mother and Her Scammer

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069 – Evaluating Memory & Thinking Problems: 10 Causes & 10 Things to Check Jul 12, 2018

Show notes

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

Related episodes:

002 – What to Do If You’re Worried About Someone’s Memory

003 – Interview: Helping Reluctant Parents Address Memory Concerns

Related Resources:

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068 – Interview: Putting Older Adults at the Center of Technology Conversations Jun 28, 2018

Show notes

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

Related Resources:

About the Longevity Explorers
For people interested in joining or starting a Longevity Explorers group, click here. (Family caregivers are also welcome to sign up.)
Explorer Insights:
- Amazon Echo and Alexa for the Elderly
- Best Jar Opener for Older Adults

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067 – Interview: Managing Difficult Alzheimer’s Behaviors Without Medications Jun 14, 2018

Show notes

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)

Related Resources:

By Paula Spencer Scott:
- 7 Steps to Managing Difficult Dementia Behaviors (Safely & Without Medications)
  - PDF Cheatsheet: 7 steps to managing difficult dementia behaviors
- Surviving Alzheimer’s: Practical Tips and Soul-Saving Wisdom for Caregivers
Delirium: A common problem that speeds Alzheimer’s decline, and how to avoid it
How to Manage Sleep Problems in Dementia
Resources for Dementia Caregivers
- Your local Area Agency on Aging (find it here)
- Local Alzheimer’s Association chapters (find them here)
- Alzheimer’s Reading Room
- AlzAuthors

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066 – Interview: Addressing Potential Self-Neglect in Older Adults May 31, 2018

Show notes

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?

Related episodes:

038 – FAQs On “Incompetence” & Losing Decision Capacity

045 – HIPAA: Key Basics & 5 FAQs for Family Caregivers

Related Resources:

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065 – Reconsidering “Successful Aging” May 17, 2018

Show notes

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

Related Resources:

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064 – What to Know About Constipation & Laxatives May 03, 2018

Show notes

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

Related Resources:

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063 – Giving Yourself (And Your Family) a Gift on National Healthcare Decisions Day Apr 19, 2018

Show notes

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