Podcasts by Better Health While Aging
Practical information for aging health
Further podcasts by Leslie Kernisan, MD MPH
Podcast on the topic Medizin
All episodes
136–8 Things Doctors Should Check After a Fall from 2023-11-29T19:41:27
Dr. K explains 8 things health providers should check after an older person falls, to prevent future dangerous falls in aging.
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135 – How to Pay for Elder Care from 2023-10-31T18:45:54
Dr. Kernisan & geriatric care manager Michelle explain options for paying for senior care, including for aging in place, residential facilities, memory care & more.
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134 – COVID&Aging August 2023 Update: Staying Safe, Boosters&More from 2023-08-15T19:55:06
Dr. K covers the recent rise in COVID, the new variant, and the upcoming booster. Plus FAQs such as whether to get boosted now or wait.
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133 – COVID Summer 2023 News Update for Aging Adults from 2023-06-07T16:09:09
Dr. K covers the latest on COVID in the US now, how to follow COVID levels, updates on COVID boosters, how to know if you still should take precautions, tips on staying safe for the summer, and more.
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132 – COVID 2023 News Update for Aging Adults (2.23.23 Edition) from 2023-02-24T18:00:45
Dr. K covers the latest COVID news for 2023, including the newest variant, updates on the bivalent booster, what happens when the public health emergency ends, & more. She also covers the prob...
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131 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (12.8.22 Edition) from 2022-12-09T18:00:45
Dr. K covers what to know about COVID and flu this winter, including what to expect from the new BQ.1 subvariants, and how to stay safer during winter gatherings. She also covers how well the fall ...
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130 – COVID Booster Update for Aging Adults (9.7.22 Edition) from 2022-09-08T19:00:45
Dr. K covers what to know about the new Omicron booster for fall, upcoming variants on the horizon, the data on who remains at risk for dying from COVID, and what she thinks people should expect fo...
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129 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (7.21.22 Edition) from 2022-07-22T20:00:45
Dr. K covers what to know about Omicron BA.5, the data on 1st and 2nd boosters, what to know about Paxlovid rebound, what precautions she recommends for aging adults, and more.
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128 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (5.5.22 Edition) from 2022-05-06T18:00:45
Dr. K explains why the current rise in COVID Omicron BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 warrants taking sensible precautions, how to use masking, ventilation, and testing, and how older adults can live with COVID ...
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127 COVID Update for Aging Adults (2.24.22 Edition) from 2022-02-25T19:00:45
Dr. K's latest COVID update covers the ebbing of the Omicron surge, what to know about the stealth Omicron BA.2, what might come next, how to live with COVID safely, and more. The post 127...
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126 Update: COVID&Omicron in Aging (1.6.22 Edition) from 2022-01-07T21:00:45
Dr. K provides an update on the Omicron surge, including whether it's milder in older adults, how to use rapid tests now, what to know about Paxlovid, and how to stay safer during the current ...
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125 Update: Omicron and COVID Vaccination in Aging (12.16.21 Edition) from 2021-12-17T14:55:45
Dr. K provides updated information on Omicron and the current COVID surge, how well vaccines are working in different age groups, why she recommends boosters, how to stay safe during the holidays, ...
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124 Does Your Aging Parent Need Help? What to check and how to talk about it from 2021-11-19T20:00:45
Dr. K explains how to know if an aging parent needs help, specific warning signs to check for, and what to say (and not say!) when bringing up your concerns. This approach can be used when visiting...
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123 Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (10.28.21 Edition) from 2021-10-29T22:55:45
Dr. K provides updated information on how well COVID vaccines work over time, the recently approved COVID boosters, what to know about rapid home COVID testing, how to stay safe during the holidays...
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122 Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (9.9.21 Edition) from 2021-09-10T13:55:45
Dr. K provides updated information on the current Delta variant surge, the effectiveness and safety of COVID vaccination for older adults, including information on the latest on boosters and how to...
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121 Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (7.29.21 Edition) from 2021-07-30T13:55:45
Dr. K provides updated information on the current Delta variant surge, the effectiveness and safety of COVID vaccination for older adults, including information on the latest CDC data and guidance....
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120 Depression in Aging: Diagnosis and Treatment from 2021-05-20T13:00:45
Geriatrician Dr. Didyk explains how depression is diagnosed and treated in later life, why depression can be harder to diagnose in older adults, medical conditions that can mimic depression, and mo...
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119 Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (5.14.21 Edition) from 2021-05-15T18:55:45
Dr. K provides updated information on the effectiveness and safety of COVID vaccination for older adults, including information on breakthrough infections in nursing homes & the latest CDC dat...
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118 Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (3.26.21 Edition) from 2021-03-26T19:00:45
Dr. K provides updated information on the effectiveness and safety of COVID vaccination for older adults, including information on the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. She also...
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117 Leg Swelling in Aging: What to Know and What to Do from 2021-02-25T14:00:45
Geriatrician Dr. Didyk explains what to know about leg swelling in aging, including common causes, when to get urgent help, and how to treat chronic leg edema. The post 117 Leg Swelling in Aging:...
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017 Paying for Long-Term Care & Other Family Caregiving Challenges from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Dr. K talks with Anne Tumlinson about how families can pay for long-term care, and other challenges in caregiving. They discuss when Medicaid and other public services might pay for care, the role ...
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016 Home Blood Pressure Monitors: Why to Have One & How to Use It from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Dr. K covers three reasons every older adult should have a home BP monitor. She also explains what to ask the doctor after BP medications have been changed, how often to check, what monitor to cons...
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015 Practical Advice for Family Caregivers & Next Step In Care from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Dr. K talks with caregiving expert Carol Levine, Director of the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund of New York and author of "Planning for Long-Term Care for Dummies." Th...
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014 Delirium & Hospital Confusion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
Dr. K explains the basics of delirium, a state of worse-than-usual mental function that can affect up to 30-70% of older adults after surgery and during serious illnesses. This episode explains the...
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116 How to Start Helping Aging Parents: My New Book from 2021-01-21T14:00:45
Dr. K talks about what is in her new book for people worried about an aging parent, and her step-by-step approach to addressing memory concerns or safety worries, while respecting a parent s autono...
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115 COVID Vaccination in Aging (12.17.20 Edition) from 2020-12-18T20:00:45
Dr. K discussed the new Pfizer COVID vaccine and the data on how well it works in older adults, especially those over age 75. She also explains how to go beyond media reports to find out more vacci...
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114 Coronavirus Updates and Suggestions (11.18.20 Edition) from 2020-11-20T20:00:45
Dr. K shares an update on the COVID-19 for older adults & people helping aging parents, including developments in treatment, what to know about the ongoing surge, the progress on vaccines, how...
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113 Urinary Incontinence In Aging from 2020-10-14T19:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Dr. Nicole Didyk about urinary continence issues in aging. They discuss common causes geriatricians check for, what to know about medications and other treatments, how...
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113 Urinary Incontinence In Aging from 2020-10-14T19:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Dr. Nicole Didyk about urinary continence issues in aging. They discuss common causes geriatricians check for, what to know about medications and other treatments, how...
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112 Flu Shots for Older Adults in COVID Times: What to Know (2020 Update) from 2020-09-17T16:00:45
Dr. K explains what to know about the new flu shots available for aging adults in 2020, plus what we know about influenza and COVID-19. She covers the basics of falling ill from influenza, how the ...
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111 Coronavirus Updates and Suggestions (7.16.20 Edition) from 2020-07-17T13:00:45
Dr. K shares her latest update on COVID19, including whether we are better at treatment and recommendations for older adults and families. The post 111 Coronavirus Updates & Suggestions (7.1...
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110 Coronavirus Updates and Suggestions for Older Adults and Families (6.11.20 Edition) from 2020-06-12T19:00:45
Dr. K shares her updates on how the COVID19 situation has evolved, plus her recommendations for balancing safety and activity during the upcoming months. The post 110 Coronavirus Updates & S...
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109 COVID in Nursing Homes and Other Long-Term Care from 2020-06-04T19:00:45
Dr. K discusses COVID with Dr. Karl Steinberg, an experienced nursing home medical director and the President-Elect of the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. They discuss how COVID...
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108 Answers to Aging Health Questions in COVID Times from 2020-04-17T19:00:45
Dr. K and guest experts Dr. Nicole Didyk and Richard Caro, PhD, answer reader questions about aging health during COVID times, including how to maintain physical and mental wellbeing during isolati...
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107 A Guide to Better Medical Care for Families of Aging Adults from 2020-04-03T19:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Muriel Gillick MD about her latest book, The Caregiver's Encylopedia: A Compassionate Guide to Caring for Older Adults. The post 107 Interview: A Guide to Bett...
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106 Coronavirus Updates and Suggestions for Older Adults and Families (3.27.20 Edition) from 2020-03-27T23:00:45
Dr. K shares her updates on how the COVID19 situation has evolved, including what she's learned about the condition, what to know about hospitalization and care options, and more. The post 106...
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105 Coronavirus Updates and Suggestions for Older Adults and Families (3.20.20 Edition) from 2020-03-20T23:00:45
Dr. K shares her updates on how the COVID19 situation has evolved, implications for older adults and families, plus suggestions on helping aging parents, helpful resources, and more. The post 105 ...
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104 Coronavirus: Planning to Help Aging Parents (Plus QA) from 2020-03-13T13:00:45
Dr. K shares the COVID19 information and recommendations she presented this week in the Helping Older Parents Membership, plus answers to member questions about preparing themselves and protecting ...
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103 Better Sex in Later Life from 2020-02-13T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Dr. Nicole Didyk about what she learned from a geriatric sex therapist, and how sex can be better in later life. They discuss common issues that come up, what can be d...
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102 The Importance of Grandparents and Intergenerational Connections from 2020-01-09T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with Kerry Byrne, PhD, a researcher and the creator of TheLongDistanceGrandparent.com. They discuss the importance of intergenerational connections and of grandparents in particular, pl...
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101 Avoiding Holiday Pitfalls with Aging Parents from 2019-12-20T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with Linda Fodrini-Johnson, a veteran geriatric care manager providing guidance in Dr. K s Helping Older Parents Membership Program. They discuss practical approaches to help families a...
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100 Bill Thomas on Ageism, Housing and Changing Aging in 2019 from 2019-12-12T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Bill Thomas, founder of Changing Aging. They discuss how his work on ageism, housing and inclusive communities has evolved over the past year. They also discuss his wo...
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099 Flu Shots for Older Adults: What to Know in 2019 from 2019-11-14T20:00:45
Dr. K explains what all older adults and family caregivers should know about the annual flu shot, with updates for 2019. She covers the basics of falling ill from influenza, how the vaccines work, ...
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098 Medicare Open Enrollment: What to Know and When to Switch from 2019-10-10T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatric care manager Michelle Allen, LCSW, about common misunderstandings people have about their Medicare coverage and what to know about Open Enrollment. Michelle is a featured...
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097 Common Elder Law Issues When Helping Aging Parents from 2019-09-12T17:00:45
Dr. K talks with elder law attorney Mark Gilfix, JD, about common legal issues that may come up when trying to help an aging parent, and how to manage them. The post 097 Interview: Common Elder L...
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096 Paying for Long-Term Care: 2019 Updates from 2019-08-08T15:30:45
Dr. K talks with Howard Gleckman, a family caregiving and long-term care insurance expert. They discuss long-term care insurance, family caregiving, the struggles many older adults and families fac...
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095 Hearing Aids and Other Hearing Loss Treatment Options from 2019-07-11T17:00:45
Dr. K talks with Meg Wallhagen, PhD, about hearing aids and other ways to help people with hearing loss. They cover the role of audiology, key questions to ask, who shouldn t get a hearing aid, oth...
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094 Hearing Loss in Aging: Why It Matters&Getting Evaluated from 2019-06-27T17:00:45
Dr. K talks with Meg Wallhagen, PhD, about the importance of addressing hearing loss in aging and how it should be evaluated. They also discuss why it s often hard to get older adults to address he...
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093 Hiring In-Home Care for Aging in Place: What to Know from 2019-06-13T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatric care manager Michelle Allen, LCSW, about what families should know when trying to get in-home care to help an older person with aging in place. Michelle is a featured exp...
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092 Addressing Nighttime Urination and Insomnia in Aging from 2019-05-30T15:30:45
Dr. K talks with Dr. Shachi Tyagi about nighttime urination and sleep issues in older adults. They discuss how these two common conditions are related, better ways to evaluate and treat them, how t...
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091 Reducing the Risk of Power of Attorney Abuse from 2019-05-16T17:00:45
Dr. K talks with David Godfrey, JD, about drafting powers of attorney to deter exploitation or abuse of an older person s finances. They discuss six steps the American Bar Association recommends ol...
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090 More on Avoiding Risky Medications and the 2019 AGS Beers Criteria from 2019-05-02T18:00:45
Dr. K discusses risky medications and the 2019 Beers Criteria in more details, with a focus on which drugs are most important for older adults to be aware of. She also shares 5 ways you can be proa...
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089 Giving Yourself (And Your Family) a Gift on National Healthcare Decisions Day from 2019-04-18T13:00:45
Dr. K shares a personal story and explains why it's so important to address advance care planning, which is meant to provide others with guidance, since most of us will at some point be unable...
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088 Avoiding Inappropriate Prescribing in Aging and What to Know About the Beers Criteria from 2019-04-04T11:00:45
Dr. K talks with Dr. Michael Steinman about risky medications in older adults and how to ensure safer prescribing. They also discuss the 2019 update to the Beers Criteria list of potentially inappr...
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087 Coping with Difficult Older Parents from 2019-03-21T21:00:45
Dr. K talks with Barbara Kane, author of Coping with Your Difficult Older Parent, about how to help an aging parent who is difficult or stressful to engage with. The post 087- Interview: Coping...
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086 Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems at UCSF from 2019-03-07T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Stephanie Rogers about new UCSF programs that make hospital care better and safer for older adults. They cover Acute Care for Elders units, delirium reduction, hip fra...
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085 4 Blood Tests Often Ordered for Older Adults from 2019-02-21T14:00:45
Dr. K explains the 4 most common blood tests ordered for older adults: what they are, why they are commonly ordered and what they can tell us about a person's health. She also covers what to a...
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084 Understanding White Matter Changes in Aging Brains from 2019-02-07T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with neurologist Fanny Elahi, MD PhD, an expert on white matter changes and cerebral small vessel disease. They discuss why these brain changes are so common in aging, how they can affe...
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083 Disrupting Aging and Creating Dementia-Friendly Communities from 2019-01-24T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with ChangingAging s Kavan Peterson about working with Dr. Bill Thomas to create dementia-friendly communities, disrupting ageism, why housing and multigenerational interactions matter,...
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082 Bill Thomas on Housing and Communities for Better Aging from 2019-01-10T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Bill Thomas, founder of Changing Aging. They discuss his recent focus on housing and communities as engines of independence in aging, through the Minka house and MAGIC...
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081 How to Plan Ahead for Your Later Years from 2018-12-27T14:00:45
Dr. K discusses how older adults can plan for their own aging needs with expert Carol Levine, Director of the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund of New York and author of ...
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080 Smartwatches as Medical Alert Devices from 2018-12-13T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with Richard Caro about his recent in-depth analysis and testing of 4 smartwatches as medical alert devices for older adults. They discuss the new fall detection built into the Apple Wa...
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079 For Aging Parents Upset by Their Child's Concerns from 2018-11-29T14:00:45
Dr. K addresses an older parent's concerns and frustrations regarding her son's attempts to help her with her health, and their differing views on what she needs. She covers how to help f...
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078 The Biology of Aging and Longevity from 2018-11-15T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with geroscientist John Newman, MD PhD, about aging as a biological process that can be affected by diet, metabolism, and much more. They discuss Dr. Newman's research on ketogenic...
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077 Making Advance Care Planning Easier Through PREPARE from 2018-11-01T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Rebecca Sudore, MD, an expert on end-of-life planning and the creator of PrepareForYourCare.org. They discuss why talking about what matters is so important, easy-to-read advance d...
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076 Flu Shots for Older Adults: What to Know in 2018 from 2018-10-18T13:00:45
Dr. K explains what all older adults and family caregivers should know about the annual flu shot, with updates for 2018. She covers the basics of falling ill from influenza, how the vaccines work, ...
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075 Preventing Falls: 4 Approaches to Ask Your Doctor About from 2018-10-04T13:00:45
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 also covers recent research on the ben...
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074 How Villages Support Aging in Community and Aging in Place from 2018-09-20T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Berkeley's Professor Andrew Scharlach about the Village model and community-based approaches to aging in place. They discuss the unique aspects of the Village model, the relat...
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073 Anticholinergic Medications and Protecting Brain Health from 2018-09-06T13:00:45
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 medicatio...
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072 How Memory and Thinking Change With Normal Cognitive Aging from 2018-08-23T13:00:45
Dr. K explains six ways that memory and thinking change, as part of normal cognitive aging. She also covers the practical implications of such changes, sensible ways to maintain brain function, pro...
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071 How Estimating Life Expectancy Helps Older Adults Get Better Care from 2018-08-09T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Sei Lee, MD, an expert on prognosis and using estimated life expectancy to improve medical care for older adults. They discuss mortality calculators, how to focus medical care on w...
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070 Addressing and Preventing Financial Exploitation in Aging from 2018-07-26T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with attorney Candace Heisler, JD, an expert on addressing financial exploitation and other forms of elder abuse. They discuss common ways in which older adults are often financially ab...
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069 Evaluating Memory and Thinking Problems: 10 Things Health Providers Should Do from 2018-07-12T13:00:45
Dr. K explains 10 things health providers should do, during the initial medical evaluation of an older person with memory or thinking problems. She also covers ten common health issues that can aff...
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068 Putting Older Adults at the Center of Technology Conversations from 2018-06-28T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Richard Caro about the Longevity Explorers meetings, in which older adults discuss technology, common challenges, and their favorite solutions. They discuss what happens when older...
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067 Managing Difficult Alzheimer's Behaviors Without Medications from 2018-06-14T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Paula Spencer Scott, author of the practical guide "Surviving Alzheimer s." They discuss how family caregivers can learn to manage difficult dementia behaviors, to mainta...
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066 Addressing Potential Self-Neglect in Older Adults from 2018-05-31T13:00:45
Dr. K discusses self-neglect in aging with Dr. Aanand Naik, a geriatrician with a special interest in this topic. They discuss how potential self-neglect can be detected, what it means to have the ...
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065 Reconsidering Successful Aging from 2018-05-17T13:00:45
For Older Americans Month, Dr. K reflects on what it means to successfully age, the role of resilience and adaptation, and how we might help support older adults in this. The post 065 Reconsider...
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064 What to Know About Constipation and Laxatives from 2018-05-03T13:00:45
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 also covers how constipation should be ...
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063 Giving Yourself (And Your Family) a Gift on National Healthcare Decisions Day from 2018-04-19T13:00:45
Dr. K shares a personal story and explains why it's so important to address advance care planning, which is meant to provide others with guidance, since most of us will at some point be unable...
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062 Preventing Hospital Delirium and Maintaining Brain Health from 2018-04-05T20:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Sharon Inouye, MD MPH, nationally-known expert on delirium, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Aging Brain Center at the Institute fo...
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061 Using Technology to Balance Safety&Autonomy in Dementia from 2018-03-22T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Mary Hulme, a geriatric social worker specialized in dementia. They discuss how new technologies can help families address safety issues while encouraging autonomy and otherwise re...
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060 Negotiating Family Caregiving Expectations After Hospitalization from 2018-03-08T16:00:45
Dr. K talks with caregiving expert Carol Levine, Director of the Families and Health Care Project at the United Hospital Fund of New York. They discuss negotiating caregiving expectations with hosp...
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059 Long-Term Care Insurance and Financing Late-Life Care Needs from 2018-02-22T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with Howard Gleckman, a family caregiving and long-term care insurance expert. They discuss long-term care insurance, family caregiving, the struggles many older adults and families fac...
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058 Avoiding Missed Flu in Older Adults from 2018-02-08T14:00:45
Dr. K explains why influenza is easily missed in older adults and what families can do, to help their older loved ones get promptly diagnosed and treated before it's too late. She covers why f...
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057 How to Manage Cardiovascular Risk Factors for Better Brain Health from 2018-01-25T14:00:45
Dr. K explains what to know and do about cardiovascular risk factors, which often contribute to cerebral small vessel disease, a common brain health problem in older adults. She covers 12 key facto...
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056 Top 10 Checklist for Better Health This Year from 2018-01-11T14:00:45
Dr. K shares her top ten aging health suggestions, for older adults and families to consider for the New Year. Her suggestions cover mobility, brain health, medication safety, dreaming big, and mor...
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055 Bill Thomas on Ageism and Innovations to Improve Aging from 2017-12-28T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Bill Thomas, MD, founder of the Eden Alternative and aging innovator extraordinaire. They discuss aging, how to counter ageism, his latest projects centered on housing...
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054 How to Make Difficult Decisions Easier: Using Goals of Care and Benefits vs Burdens from 2017-12-14T14:00:45
Dr. K discusses a reader's dilemma concerning his resistant 96-year-old father, and explains how using two foundational concepts -- goals of care, and weighing benefits versus burdens -- can h...
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053 Addressing Loneliness in Aging from 2017-11-30T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with Carla Perissinotto, MD, a nationally known expert on loneliness in aging. They discuss how loneliness and social isolation impact health, what to do if you're concerned about ...
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052 Maintaining Mobility and Preventing Falls in Aging: Myths and Truths from 2017-11-16T14:00:45
Dr. K talks with Tiffany Shubert, a physical therapist and fall prevention expert. They discuss several common questions related to exercise and aging, including what types are best, whether chair ...
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051 Innovations to Help Older Adults and Family Caregivers from 2017-11-02T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Anne Tumlinson, founder of Daughterhood.org. They discuss what families struggle with the most, the upcoming Aging 2.0 Optimize Conference, promising innovations to help family car...
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050 Flu Shots for Older Adults: What to Know from 2017-10-19T13:00:45
Dr. K explains what all older adults and family caregivers should know about the annual flu shot. She covers the basics of falling ill from influenza, how the vaccines work, which flu shots are spe...
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049 Better Primary Care for Older Adults: the Oak Street Health Story from 2017-10-05T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Griffin Myers, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Oak Street Health, a Chicago-based network of primary care clinics designed to serve older adults. They discuss the problems with usual ...
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048 How Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Affects Most Aging Brains from 2017-09-21T13:00:45
Dr. K explains what to know about cerebral small vessel disease, a very common brain condition linked to cognitive decline, balance and walking problems, dementia, and other significant health issu...
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047 Unintended Weight Loss in Aging from 2017-09-07T19:00:45
Dr. K explains what to know and what to do, if you're concerned about an older person who is losing weight. She also covers the most common causes of weight loss, how this serious problem shou...
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046 Deprescribing and Reducing Risky Medications in Aging from 2017-08-24T13:00:45
Dr. K talks about deprescribing risky medications with geriatrician Dr. Cara Tannenbaum, an expert on empowering older adults to avoid potentially inappropriate medications. They discuss why sleepi...
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045 HIPAA: Key Basics and 5 FAQs for Family Caregivers from 2017-08-10T13:00:45
Dr. K explains 5 key basics that all family caregivers should know about the HIPAA Privacy Rule, and your options for getting doctors to share information about an older relative's health. She...
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044 Hospice Medications and What to do if You're Concerned from 2017-07-27T12:00:45
Dr. K addresses concerns about the use of morphine and lorazepam (brand name Ativan) while on hospice care. She explains how these drugs can be used for end of life symptoms, what the research and ...
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043 How Hospice Helps at the End of Life, and Hospice for Alzheimer's from 2017-07-13T12:00:45
Dr. K explains the basics of hospice, with a special focus on hospice for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. She also addresses common misperceptions people have about hosp...
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042 Why Healthcare is Flawed and How to Improve It: The Work of Dr. Lawrence Weed from 2017-06-29T12:00:45
Dr. K explains healthcare's fundamental flaws and how to fix them, as articulated by the visionary healthcare reformer Dr. Larry Weed, who died this month at age 93. Includes tips on how to ge...
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041 UTIs and Urine Bacteria in Aging: How to get the right diagnosis and avoid unneeded antibiotics from 2017-06-15T12:00:45
Dr. K explains why having bacteria in one's urine does NOT mean one has a urinary tract infection (UTI) that requires antibiotics. It's actually common for older adults to have bacteria i...
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040 Dehydration in Older Adults: How to Prevent It, Detect It, and Treat It from 2017-06-01T11:00:45
Dr. K explains how to prevent, detect, and treat dehydration in aging adults. She also explains why seniors are at higher risk, why certain commonly used tests for dehydration can be misleading, th...
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039 Creating Age-Friendly Health Systems from 2017-05-18T12:00:45
Dr. K discusses age-friendly health systems with Amy Berman of the John A Hartford Foundation. They cover what is an age-friendly health system, how it benefits older adults and families, how JAHF ...
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038 FAQs On"Incompetence"and Losing Decision Capacity in Aging from 2017-05-04T12:00:45
Worried about an older person's decisions? Dr. K addresses FAQs about decision-making abilities and concerns about "incompetence." She also provides practical advice on what you can ...
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037 Using Powers of Attorney to Help Older Adults from 2017-04-20T12:00:45
Dr. K talks with elder law attorney Harry Margolis. They discuss the durable general power of attorney as a tool to help a declining older parent, including how to minimize related family conflicts...
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036 Minimizing Family Conflicts and Supporting Aging Parents from 2017-04-06T12:00:45
Dr. K talks with Janet Benvenuti, family caregiving expert and author of "Don't Give Up on Me: Supporting Aging Parents Successfully." They discuss Janet's experiences negotiati...
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035 Aging in the Right Place from 2017-03-23T11:00:45
Dr. K talks with Stephen Golant, PhD, author of the book Aging in the Right Place. They discuss the pros and cons of aging in place, how seniors can figure out where is the right place to age, what...
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034 Preventing Falls: 10 Types of Medication to Reconsider from 2017-03-09T13:00:45
Dr. K reviews the ten types of medications that may be associated with falls in aging adults, and explains what the CDC is telling doctors and patients to do about these drugs. The post 034 Preve...
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033 Safer Treatments for Insomnia in Aging from 2017-02-23T13:00:45
Dr. K explains how to safely and effectively treat insomnia in older adults, and why most seniors should avoid sleeping pills, which are bad for brain health. She also covers approaches to treating...
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032 5 Top Causes of Sleep Problems in Aging from 2017-02-09T13:00:45
Dr. K explains the most common causes of insomnia and other sleep problems in older adults, and offers advice on how to get them correctly diagnosed. She also explains how sleep changes with aging....
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031 Choosing the Safest Over-the-Counter Painkiller in Aging from 2017-01-26T13:00:45
Dr. K explains which over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers are usually safest for seniors, and which are much riskier than people realize. She covers common side-effects and risks to be aware of, and ...
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030 Drugs for Difficult Dementia Behaviors: What to Know from 2017-01-12T14:00:45
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, including how they work and commo...
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029 The Healthy Aging Checklist from 2016-12-29T14:00:45
Dr. K explains her 6-item Healthy Aging Checklist, which covers the key things all older adults should do, for better health right now and to set a foundation for the best possible health for the f...
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028 When Older Parents Resist Help: 4 Tips for Better Talks from 2016-12-15T14:00:45
Dr. K shares four approaches that help family caregivers talk to older parents who are resisting help. She explains how to better listen, how to balance safety against other goals, when to consider...
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027 "Elder Orphans": Aging When Single and Childless from 2016-12-01T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Carol Marak, founder of the Elder Orphans Facebook Group. They discuss aging issues facing those who have no spouse or adult children, including transportation, housing, options fo...
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026 4 Drugs for Alzheimer's & Other Dementias: FAQs & Tips from 2016-11-24T16:00:45
Only four medications are FDA-approved to treat Alzheimer's and other dementias. Dr. K covers everything families should know, including how these drugs work in the brain, how well they help, commo...
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025 Palliative Care to Live Well with Cancer from 2016-11-10T10:30:45
Dr. K talks with Amy Berman, RN, who has used palliative care to live well despite having Stage IV breast cancer since 2010. They discuss what palliative care is, how it relates to hospice, the imp...
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024 Better Cancer Screening While Aging from 2016-10-27T13:00:45
Dr. K talks with Louise Walter, MD, an expert on cancer screening and life-expectancy in older adults. They discuss why cancer screening can cause more harm than good, how to figure out an older pe...
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023 Anemia: 10 Common Causes & What to Ask from 2016-10-13T13:00:45
Dr. K explains anemia, a very common problem that isn't always due to low iron levels. She covers the most common causes, tests used to diagnose anemia, and what to ask the doctor, to be proactive ...
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022 Helping a Paranoid Older Parent and Checking Safety from 2016-09-29T12:30:45
Late-life paranoia is surprisingly common. Dr. K answers a reader's questions regarding an aging parent with paranoia, including how to check on safety and levels of decline. She also covers common...
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021 Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Risks, Diagnosis, & Treatment from 2016-09-15T14:00:45
Dr. K explains vitamin B12 deficiency, an easily missed problem that affects up to 20% of seniors and can affect walking, thinking, red blood cell count, and more. She covers who is at risk, who sh...
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020 How to Diagnose & Treat Mild Cognitive Impairment from 2016-09-01T15:00:45
Dr. K explains the diagnosis and treatment of mild cognitive impairment, a common condition that progresses to dementia in over 30% of people. Learn how doctors evaluate mild memory problems, how t...
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019 How Foundations Are Improving Health & Aging from 2016-08-18T15:00:45
Dr. K talks with Chris Langston, PhD, former Program Director at the John A. Hartford Foundation. They discuss the role of philanthropy in improving health for older adults, how to help people expe...
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018 High Blood Pressure Treatment in Older Adults: Research Findings & Practical Tips from 2016-08-04T17:00:45
Dr. K explains how to decide what an older person's blood pressure should be, based on recent blood pressure guidelines and the latest research on intensive blood pressure lowering in seniors. Lear...
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