Better Health While Aging

By Better Health While AgingArts

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Better Health While Aging episodes

September 10, 2021122 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (9.9.21 Edition)
In This Episode:
This video update covers my latest thoughts on the Delta surge, what we’ve learned about the efficacy of COVID vaccination in older adults over the last six months, breakthrough COVID cases, and whether “boosters” will be required.
(View the show notes page to watch my subtitled talk and my slides.)
This episode covers:
The current COVID situation in US
What we’ve learned about COVID vaccination over 6 months
The latest on third doses (aka “boosters”)
How to know what’s safe & answers to FAQs
My latest recommendations for older adult & families
Note: A day after I recorded my update, the CDC released three additional studies regarding COVID vaccination. You can read about them here. Basically, one study concluded that vaccinated people are 5x less likely to get COVID, 10x less likely to be hospitalized, and 11x less likely to die of COVID. Another study found that vaccine efficacy is a bit lower in adults older than 75, compared to younger than 75, and that vaccine efficacy was better with Moderna than Pfizer. And a study in veterans found that “vaccine effectiveness in preventing COVID-19–related hospitalization was 80% among adults aged ≥65 years compared with 95% among adults aged 18–64 years.”
Related Episodes:
121 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (7.29.21 Edition)
Related Resources:
BHWA:
COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do
CDC:
CDC COVID Data Tracker (to check your local transmission rates)
CDC: When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard
COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People (CDC)
Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Nursing Home Residents Before and During Widespread Circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant — National Healthcare Safety Network, March 1–August 1, 2021
From medical journals:
Comparison of two highly-effective mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 during periods of Alpha and Delta variant prevalence (Mayo Clinic pre-print Aug 2021)
Viral loads of Delta-variant SARS-CoV2 breakthrough infections following vaccination and booster with the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pre-print from Israel)
From news and other media:
What to know about booster shots if you received Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine (9/8/21)
So you got the J&J vaccine? Here’s what you should know about the delta variant, boosters, and more (8/18/21)
Highly Vaccinated Israel Is Seeing A Dramatic Surge In New COVID Cases. Here’s Why (NPR 8/20/21)
Health Officials Advise White House to Scale Back Booster Plan for Now (NY Times, 9/3/21)
NY Times: COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
NY Times: Coronavirus Variant Tracker
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44 min
July 30, 2021121 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (7.29.21 Edition)
In This Episode:
This video update includes my thoughts on the Delta variant and the latest CDC announcement regarding guidance for fully vaccinated adults, what to know about “breakthrough” COVID cases in nursing homes and elsewhere, recent studies on the efficacy of vaccines in older adults (and why some touted study results may not apply to older adults), who might not be well protected by the vaccine, and more.
(View the show notes page to watch my subtitled talk and my slides.)
This episode covers:
A recap of the current COVID & vaccine situation
What to know about Delta & the latest CDC mask update
“Breakthrough” COVID cases
Updates on COVID safety & efficacy in older adults and the immunocompromised
Whether boosters will be needed and whether to get one if available
My latest recommendations for older adults & families
Note: Since I recorded my update, the Washington Post has reported on the CDC’s internal presentation covering why they are so concerned about the Delta variant. The data presented is interesting and can be found here.
Related Resources:
BHWA:
COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do
CDC:
CDC COVID Data Tracker (to check your local transmission rates)
Internal CDC presentation on Delta variant and breakthrough infections (July 29, 2021)
CDC: When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard
CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (meeting slides on vaccine safety and efficacy topics are usually very informative; browse for the latest ones here)
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness studies (May 12, 2021; includes some nursing home studies)
From medical journals:
Covid-19 Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Health Care Workers (July 2021)
Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccines against the B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant (July 2021)
From news and other media:
The war has changed’: Internal CDC document urges new messaging, warns delta infections likely more severe (July 30, 2021)
CDC reversal on indoor masking prompts experts to ask, ‘Where’s the data?’ (July 2021)
Israeli Data Suggests Possible Waning in Effectiveness of Pfizer Vaccine (July 2021)
Biden Officials Now Expect Vulnerable Americans to Need Booster Shots (July 2021)
Citing New Data, Pfizer Outlines Case for Booster Shots (July 2021)
NY Times: COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
NY Times: Coronavirus Variant Tracker
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40 min
May 20, 2021120 – Depression in Aging: Diagnosis & Treatment
Watch the subtitled video and search the transcript by clicking above.
(For a short tutorial on how to search the transcript, see here.)
In This Episode:
Guest host Dr. Nicole Didyk discusses the diagnosis and treatment of depression, including why it’s often tricky to diagnose in later life, and how it can be treated. (Note: depression in the context of dementia will be covered in an upcoming episode.) Dr. Didyk is a geriatrician in Canada, and the founder of the blog and YouTube channel The Wrinkle.
She covers:
What’s different about depression in older adults?
What are the signs that an older person might be depressed?
What medical illnesses can mimic depression?
Which medications can cause or worsen depressive symptoms?
How can depression be treated in older adults?
What to do if you’re concerned about depression in an older person
Related episodes:
053 – Interview: Addressing Loneliness in Aging
Related Resources:
VIDEO: Geriatric Depression – is it normal for old people to be sad? with Dr. Didyk
Depression in Aging: Diagnosis & Treatment When the Golden Years are Blue
Older Adults and Depression — National Institute of Mental Health
Depression in Older Adults – HelpGuide.org
Depression | Aging & Health A-Z | American Geriatrics Society | HealthInAging.org
Suicide Prevention Helplines (available 24/7):
IOA Friendship Line (developed for older adults): 800-971-0016
United States 1-800-273-TALK
Canada 1-833-456-4566
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37 min
May 15, 2021119 – Update: COVID Vaccination in Aging (5.14.21 Edition)
In This Episode:
Dr. K provides commentary on the recent COVID developments, including the CDC’s latest mask guidance for vaccinated people, plus updated information on the effectiveness and safety of COVID vaccination for older adults. She also addresses FAQs about coronavirus vaccination.
This episode covers:
Why Dr. K has some concerns about the recent CDC mask update
What to know about “breakthrough” COVID cases, which have affected nursing homes and are being undercounted
The question of whether vaccinated people can transmit COVID
Recent studies related to COVID safety & efficacy in older adults
Why immunocompromised people might not be protected by the vaccine, especially if they have a “blood cancer” or are on medications that affect their B cells or T cells
How to think about COVID risk: yours and you exposing others to COVID risk
Answers to FAQs, including:
Should I get vaccinated against COVID?
Should my 90 year old mother get the COVID vaccine?
How well does the vaccine work in older adults?
Which vaccine is best for older adults? Which vaccine is safest?
Should I worry that the vaccine might harm me (or my frail older parent)?
Should I worry that I haven’t responded enough to the vaccine?
Dr. K’s current recommendations regarding COVID vaccination and staying safe given current conditions
Related Resources:
BHWA:
COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do
CDC:
Fully Vaccinated Adults 65 and Older Are 94% Less Likely to Be Hospitalized with COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States
Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard
CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (meeting slides on vaccine safety and efficacy topics are usually very informative; browse for the latest ones here)
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness studies (May 12, 2021; includes some nursing home studies)
From medical journals:
Impact and effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths following a nationwide vaccination campaign in Israel: an observational study using national surveillance data (Pfizer vaccine in Israel, May 2021)
Researchers Tie Severe Immunosuppression to Chronic COVID-19 and Virus Variants (May 2021)
New York Times:
COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
Coronavirus Variant Tracker
What Does the New Mask Guidance Really Mean? (NY Times 5/13/21)
Other articles:
How Vaccine Hesitancy Is Driving Breakthrough Infections in Nursing Homes
The CDC’s Big Mask Surprise Came Out of Nowhere
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52 min
March 26, 2021118 – Updates: COVID Vaccination in Aging (3.26.21 Edition)
In This Episode:
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 addresses FAQs about coronavirus vaccination.
This episode covers:
How we can tell the COVID vaccines are working
Data on how COVID cases and deaths have fallen in nursing homes and among people aged 85+
Current COVID mortality rates in older adults
What the latest observational studies show, regarding vaccine effectiveness in people over age 80
What the Johnson & Johnson vaccine trial data shows, when it comes to older adults with chronic conditions
What’s been found so far, regarding vaccine safety
Answers to FAQs, including:
Should I get vaccinated against COVID?
Should my 90-year-old parent get the COVID vaccine?
How well does the vaccine work in older adults?
Can you get COVID if you’ve been vaccinated?
Should you be vaccinated if you already had COVID?
Which COVID vaccine is best for seniors? Which vaccine is safest?
Should I worry that the vaccine might harm me (or my frail older parent)?
When can I get vaccinated? Which vaccine should I try to get?
If I’ve been vaccinated, is it safe to …?
Dr. K’s current recommendations regarding COVID vaccination and staying safe given current conditions
Related Resources:
BHWA: COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do
FDA (Food & Drug Administration):
COVID-19 Vaccines
Johnson & Johnson FDA Briefing Data
CDC:
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
First Month of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Monitoring — United States, December 14, 2020–January 13, 2021
Provisional COVID-19 Death Counts by Sex, Age, and State
COVID-19 Case Surveillance Public Use Data
Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard
Suspected Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Residents of a Skilled Nursing Facility During a Second COVID-19 Outbreak
Risk for COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death By Age Group
CDC: When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
New England Journal of Medicine:
Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine (Pfizer vaccine)
BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Mass Vaccination Setting (Pfizer vaccine in Israel)
Efficacy and Safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Moderna vaccine)
New York Times:
COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
Coronavirus Variant Tracker
Uptodate.com COVID-19 Resources & Tools (Coronavirus Resources)
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection
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54 min
February 25, 2021117 – Leg Swelling in Aging: What to Know & Do
Watch the subtitled video and search the transcript by clicking above.
(For a short tutorial on how to search the transcript, see here.)

In This Episode:
Guest host Dr. Nicole Didyk explains what older adults and families should know about leg edema (swollen legs), a common condition that affects aging adults. Dr. Didyk is a geriatrician in Canada, and the founder of the blog and YouTube channel The Wrinkle.
She discusses:
Why is it common for the lower legs to swell?
What are the most common medical causes of leg edema and what are some serious causes that should not be missed?
Which common medications can make leg swelling worse?
When should you seek immediate medical attention for swollen legs?
How can chronically swollen legs be treated?
What to know about using diuretics (water pills) for swollen legs

Related episodes:
092- Interview: Addressing Nighttime Urination & Insomnia in Aging
040 – Dehydration in Older Adults: How to Prevent It, Detect It, & Treat It
113 – Interview: Urinary Incontinence in Aging
Related Resources:
Leg Swelling in Aging: What to Know and What to Do
What Is Edema? – Causes and Treatment | familydoctor.org
Treatment of Edema – American Family Physician (aafp.org)
Chronic Venous Insufficiency | Society for Vascular Surgery
What is Chronic Venous Disease? | American Venous Forum (veinforum.org)
VIDEO: EDEMA – What causes swollen legs
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21 min
January 21, 2021 116 – Interview: Dr. K’s New Book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help
Watch the subtitled video and search the transcript by clicking above.(For a short tutorial on how to search the transcript, see here.)

In This Episode:
Dr. K talks to fellow geriatrician Dr. Nicole Didyk about her new book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A geriatrician’s guide to memory loss, safety worries, resistance, and more. Dr. Didyk is the founder of the blog and YouTube channel The Wrinkle.
They discuss:
What led Dr. K to create this step-by-step guide for children of aging parents
Why the book is set up in four sections: taking stock, taking aim, taking action, plus taking the long view
How to communicate with your aging parent attentively and respectfully
How dementia and other memory or thinking issues often play a key role in an older adult’s resistance to change
Why she included practical “real-life” examples and printable downloadable “cheatsheets” that readers can reference
The A-B-C-D-E framework for taking action to help an aging parent
Why adult children often need to check themselves and accept their parents’ choices
Related episode:
028 – When Older Parents Resist Help: 4 Tips for Better Talks
Related Resources:
More information on the book: When Your Aging Parent Needs Help
9 Types of Issues to Address When Helping Older Parents

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56 min
December 18, 2020 115 – COVID Vaccination in Aging (12.17.20 Edition)
In This Episode:
Dr. K discussed the new Pfizer coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, with a special focus on understanding how well it works and how safe it is, in aging adults.
This episode covers:
What to know about vaccine media reports and older adults
Why it’s important to try to find out the actual ages (and age distribution) of older participants in vaccine trials
How Dr. K looks at a published study to determine whether the vaccine works for her patients
Why the current Pfizer data can’t tell us whether the vaccine works in people over age 75
Why an expert dissented from the CDC’s decision to prioritize vaccination for nursing home residents
Dr. K’s current recommendations regarding COVID vaccination and keeping frail older adults safe during the pandemic
Related Resources:
BHWA: COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do
FDA (Food & Drug Administration):
COVID-19 Vaccines
FDA: Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained
CDC:
How CDC Is Making COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
Provisional COVID-19 Death Counts by Sex, Age, and State
CDC advisory panel’s lone dissenter on why long-term care residents shouldn’t receive Covid-19 vaccine first
New England Journal of Medicine:
Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine (12/10/20 publication of the Pfizer vaccine phase 2/3 trial data)
New York Times:
COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker
F.D.A. Clears Pfizer Vaccine, and Millions of Doses Will Be Shipped Right Away
Uptodate.com COVID-19 Resources & Tools (Coronavirus Resources)
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection
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42 min
November 20, 2020 114 – Coronavirus Updates & Suggestions (11.18.20 Edition)
Watch the subtitled video and search the transcript by clicking above. (For a short tutorial on how to search the transcript, see here.)
In This Episode:
Dr. K shares an update on the coronavirus (COVID19) situation and more recommendations to help older adults and people concerned about aging parents.
This episode covers:
The coronavirus situation today
Why COVID rates are so high right now
Latest developments in treatment & vaccination
What this means for older adults
If you’re wondering “Is it safe to…?”
Dr. K’s recommendations for the holidays and winter
Related episode:
108 – Live QA: Aging Health in COVID Times
Related news:
Limiting Indoor Capacity Can Reduce Coronavirus Infections, Study Shows
Covid in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count
New Medicare coverage for COVID-19 antibody treatment can be ‘really helpful’ for nursing homes
AARP Answers: Nursing Homes and the Coronavirus
Bamlanivimab for COVID-19 — Hard to Pronounce, Even Harder to Give
A Series of Disappointing Results of Immune-Based Therapies for COVID-19
Journal Watch
COVID-19 Updates
Infectious Disease Blog
Resources:
Uptodate.com COVID-19 Resources & Tools (Coronavirus Resources)
What is a pulse oximeter
Center to Advance Palliative Care COVID Response Resources – see info in the symptom management section.
TheConversationProject.org:
1 hr 42 min
October 14, 2020 113 – Interview: Urinary Incontinence In Aging
In This Episode:
Dr. K discusses urinary incontinence in aging with geriatrician Dr. Nicole Didyk, founder of the blog and YouTube channel The Wrinkle. They discuss:
Why this is such an important health issue to detect and address
Why aging tends to bring on urinary continence issues
The four main types of urinary incontinence to know about
The DIAPPERS mnemonic geriatricians often use to check for common causes of incontinence
Which medications can cause or worsen incontinence
How health providers should evaluate and diagnose incontinence
How to prevent and treat urinary issues
Timed toileting and other approaches to managing incontinence in Alzheimer’s and other dementias
Related episode:
092- Interview: Addressing Nighttime Urination & Insomnia in Aging
Related Resources:
Urinary Incontinence in Aging: What to know when you can’t wait to go
From Dr. Didyk’s site TheWrinkle:
Interview with Dr. Adrian Wagg
Four Types of Incontinence video
Reversible causes of incontinence
Canadian Continence Foundation: https://www.canadiancontinence.ca/EN/about-us.php
Continence Product advisor: https://www.continenceproductadvisor.org/
International Urogynecological Association leaflets – available in multiple languages: https://www.yourpelvicfloor.org/leaflets/
National Association for Continence: https://www.nafc.org/
Bladder diaries:
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/AlbertaDocuments/bladder-bowel-diary-printable.pdf (asks patient to measure urine output)
https://www.yourpelvicfloor.org/media/Bladder_Diary-5.pdf
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1 hr 7 min