By Better Health While Aging
Practical information for aging health & family caregivers
Dr. Kernisan covers the best ways to promote brain health and prevent cognitive decline in aging. Learn which approaches geriatricians find most effective, plus which vitamins and supplements are likely to help. Dr. K also covers emotional well-being in aging,...
Dr. Kernisan & Michelle Allen, LCSW, explain how Aging Life Care Professionals (also known as geriatric care managers) help older adults and their families.
Dr. K explains 8 things health providers should check after an older person falls, to prevent future dangerous falls in aging.
Dr. Kernisan & geriatric care manager Michelle explain options for paying for senior care, including for aging in place, residential facilities, memory care & more.
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.
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.
Dr. K discusses the latest COVID news for 2023, including what’s most important for aging adults and their families to know for the spring. She also covers the problem of doctors inappropriately not prescribing Paxlovid (the best treatment if an...
Dr. K discusses what aging adults & families should know about COVID and flu this winter. She covers: The currently increasing rates of COVID & flu What to know about the new Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 How well the fall COVID bivalent booster...
Dr. K discusses what aging adults & families should know about the new fall COVID boosters, the latest Omicron variants, and more. Plus who died of COVID this summer and how to know if you’re at high risk of severe...
Dr. K discusses the high COVID levels, the related risks for aging adults, what to know about Omicron BA.5, the data on boosters, and the most effective ways to take sensible precautions. She covers: The current COVID situation and how high cases...
Dr. K discusses the current rise in COVID cases, the related risks for aging adults, what to know about the newest Omicron variants, and the most effective ways to take sensible precautions. She covers: Where we are at with COVID now, and...
In This Episode: Dr. K discusses the ebbing of the Omicron surge, what to know about the “stealth” Omicron BA.2 (it has taken over in Denmark and is growing here), how to “live with COVID” safely, and more. She covers: Why current COVID...
In This Episode: This episode covers the latest on the ongoing Omicron surge, including whether it’s milder in older adults, what’s we’ve learned about rapid testing for Omicron, what to know about the current hospital situation, how to stay safer during...
In This Episode: This update covers Omicron, COVID boosters, plus how to search the CDC data to see just how well vaccines have worked, even in older adults. I also show the data demonstrating that vaccinated people age 80+ are still...
In This Episode: Dr. K explains what to do if you’ve become worried about your aging parent, and are trying to figure out if they need help, or are unsure of what to do next. She covers: What mental changes are normal...
In This Episode: This video update covers COVID boosters, recent research on the efficacy of COVID vaccination in older adults over the last six months, why we are seeing breakthrough infections, and more. I also cover my recommendations for how aging...
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...
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...
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...
.searchie-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .searchie-container iframe, .searchie-container object, .searchie-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } In This Episode: Dr. K provides commentary on the recent COVID...
.searchie-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .searchie-container iframe, .searchie-container object, .searchie-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } In This Episode: Dr. K provides updated information on the effectiveness...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
In This Episode: Dr. K explains what all older adults and family caregivers should know about the new flu shots available for older adults this year and recommendations for influenza vaccination during this first COVID fall. This episode covers: The basics of...
.searchie-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .searchie-container iframe, .searchie-container object, .searchie-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } In This Episode: Dr. K shares the coronavirus (COVID19) information and...
.searchie-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .searchie-container iframe, .searchie-container object, .searchie-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } In This Episode: Dr. K shares an update on the coronavirus...
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 has affected nursing homes so far, and how we can...
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 isolation and much more.
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Muriel Gillick MD about her latest book, The Caregiver's Encylopedia: A Compassionate Guide to Caring for Older Adults.
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.
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.
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 their aging parents.
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 done, how being a...
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, plus practical tips on staying more connected to grandchildren and people of other generations.
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 avoid common conflicts that come up during the holidays. They also discuss adapting the...
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 work with home health providers, his own move...
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, which flu shots are specifically designed...
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 expert providing guidance in Dr. K's Helping Older Parents Membership...
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.
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 face in paying for late-life care, and much more. They also discuss...
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, other treatment options, and much...
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 hearing loss, and how Professor...
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 expert providing guidance in Dr. K's...
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 they relate to falls, and much more.
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 older adults take when drafting a POA, how these...
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 proactive, and her...