By Better Health While Aging
Practical information for aging health & family caregivers
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 get better care in today's healthcare system.
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 in the urine but no UTI symptoms or other...
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, the relationship between dehydration and urinary tract infections,...
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 plans to pilot and expand these systems, and...
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 do if you're concerned that an older person is making "bad" decisions.
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.
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 negotiating caregiving with her parents and siblings, how boomers can better prepare for their own...
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 is...
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.
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 sleep problems in Alzheimer's.
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.
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 provides tips on helping an older person get the...
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 common side-effects. She also explains how geriatricians usually approach difficult...
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 future.
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 cognitive impairment, and much more.
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 for getting help, and more.
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, common side-effects, when to consider stopping, and practical tips for...
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 importance of finding an oncologist...
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 person's life-expectancy, and why the PSA...
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 and ensure you get...
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 causes of paranoia and offers tips on getting help,...
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 should be checked, how this...
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 this differs from normal brain aging, how exercise &...
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 this differs from normal brain aging, how exercise and...
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 expect more from doctors, the shortage of geriatricians,...
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. Learn to make sure doctors are measuring BP accurately,...
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 of long-term care insurance, why Anne started...
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 consider purchasing, and much more.
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." They discuss how family caregivers can better...
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 difference between delirium and dementia, how the two...
Dr. K talks with Carolyn Rosenblatt, RN JD, the author of "The Family Guide to Aging Parents" and an expert on helping families solve problems related to older parents. They discuss common conflicts related to money management and safety, the...
Dr. K answers nine audience questions on aging health. This episode covers how many extra opinions to get if you've been diagnosed with a serious illness, unbalanced legs, concerns about impotence, how to deal with declining independence if you can't...
Dr. K explains the "healthy aging" dose of vitamin D that she recommends for most older adults, and reviews research and recommendations on this topic. She also addresses many frequently asked questions about vitamin D, such as what type to...