Topic: health
A “screening” is a general test to look for signs of a problem. Because early detection makes a huge difference in your ability to recover from any disease or condition, Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans use screening tests for many health issues. Often these tests are 100% covered—no copayments. But you must fit eligibility criteria. The criteria usually involve age, symptoms, and/or a family history that puts you at risk. …
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for much of western Washington beginning Friday afternoon (July 5) as temperatures should approach and even exceed 90 degrees over the weekend.
Summer is officially here. The weather forecast has us bracing for some hot weather. During the hottest months, dehydration is one of the most frequent diagnoses leading to hospitalization for older adults. According to the National Institutes on Health, “Older adults are particularly vulnerable to heat-related complications because of the declining ability of the body to thermo-regulate with age, as well as because of social/behavioral factors, such as increased likelihood of living alone, being homebound, or taking medications that interfere with fluid balance.”
Here are some tips to help stay cool and minimize risk of dehydration and heat-related illness. …
Your healthcare power of attorney (HCPOA) is an individual you trust to speak for you when you are unable to voice your own decisions: A car accident, surgery, coma, dementia.
In such circumstances, doctors need someone who knows you well and has had conversations with you to guide them in terms of the medical procedures you would or would not want. …
March is Nutrition Month, an invitation to refresh our knowledge of healthful eating using evidence-based guidelines.
Healthy eating across the lifespan is important. As we grow older, nutrition can play an essential role in how we age. The food choices we make play an important role in sustaining health and preventing disease. …
February is Heart Health Month and February 2, is Go Red for Women Day, the American Heart Association’s signature women’s initiative to increase awareness about cardiovascular disease.
Over 60 million women in the U.S. are living with some form of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and can affect women at any age.
In most cases, heart disease is preventable with a healthy lifestyle. This includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, engaging in regular moderate-intensity physical activity, managing stress, and getting regular checkups. …
When Medicare first began in 1965, the idea was that it was for everyone over age 65, not just those who were poor. There would be no stigma.
Things are different now. We live longer. Medical costs are rising. In 2003, Congress decided that those with higher incomes should chip in extra to share the load. This extra is called the “income-related monthly adjustment amount” (IRMAA). …
Planning a trip?
Your health insurance might not come with you!
…
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Here are some evidence-based approaches to boost brain health and lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. …
Better Brain Health: What’s good for your heart is good for your brainRead More »
Concerns about an older parent’s well-being are normal. Striking the right balance between supporting independence and ensuring safety can be a struggle for adult children. One of the most common reasons adult children reach out to us is when a parent, who obviously needs help, refuses it.
When we see changes in our parents, it’s usually a sign that something has shifted. …
When Your Parent Refuses Help: How to move forwardRead More »
Here are a few of many reasons we love libraries.
We see it every day at Aging Wisdom, the subtle and profound ways knowledge empowers our clients, their families, our colleagues, and the allied professionals with whom we work.
For our clients, being informed and knowledgeable builds confidence. The more they know, the better they understand changes in health, evaluate options, manage difficult situations, make more informed choices and wiser decisions. …
It’s National Library Week: “There’s More to the Story”Read More »