“If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!”
George Burns (who lived to be 100)

Aging is an everyday fact of life and, as Grandmother used to say, it’s better than the alternative!  The trick is to stay active, vibrant and healthy well into your senior years.

Today, many adults are doing just that, thanks to their own healthy lifestyle choices and the myriad advances in medical science.

How to ensure that you celebrate good health in the years ahead?

It’s important to understand the critical components of healthy aging, including physical, emotional, and mental well-being.  With healthy lifestyle choices, good nutrition, staying active, and maintaining a strong social support, you can look forward to a long, happy life.  And, that’s healthy aging!

At Joppel, we want to do everything we can to help you make the years ahead the best yet.  So, we’ve gathered some healthy aging tips from the experts in a single spot for your easy reference.  Please take a look at those topics that interest you.

Aging / Wellness – Partnering with Your Doctor

Finding A Doctor You Trust

The first step in partnering with your doctor is finding someone you trust and feel comfortable with.  Your main doctor (often called your primary care doctor) gets to know you and what your health is normally like. He or she can help you make medical decisions that suit your values and daily habits and can keep in touch with the other medical specialists and health care providers you may need.

If you’re not comfortable with your current doctor, it may be time to find a new one.

Here are seven steps to help you find a new doctor.

1.  Determine what you are looking for in your doctor.  Understand which qualities are most important and which are nice to have. Some questions to ask when you’re looking for a new doctor:

• Do you prefer a man or woman physician?
• Do you want a doctor with evening office hours or who speaks a certain language?
• Do you want a doctor affiliated with a certain hospital?
• Do you want a doctor who is part of a group so you can see someone else if he/she is not available?
• Do you have any other specific requirements?

2.  Identify several possible choices by asking trusted friends, relatives, neighbors and other health care professionals. Rather than just getting a name, ask about the person’s experiences. For example, ask, “What do you like about Dr. Smith?” and “Does this doctor take time to answer questions?”  A doctor whose name comes up often may be a strong possibility.

3.  Consult reference sources.  Professional directories can also provide the names of local physicians.  Among these are:

• The Directory of Physicians in the United States and The Official American Board of Medical Specialties Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists are available at many libraries and provide a list of doctors you may want to consider.
• MedlinePlus, a website from the National Library of Medicine, has a comprehensive list of directories (www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/directories.html) which may also be helpful.
• The American Medical Association’s website at www.ama-assn.org (click on Doctor Finder).
• WebMD provides a list of doctors at www.webmd.com (click on Doctors).
• Check your local or state medical society to see if any complaints have been filed against the doctors you are considering.

4.  Consider your health plan. If you belong to a health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO), you will need to choose a doctor within the plan’s network. In an HMO, the doctor you choose (your primary care doctor) coordinates all care and, if necessary, refers members to specialists. You are required to get all your care from doctors in the network.

With a PPO, you have more flexibility. A PPO is a network of doctors and other health care providers who agree to provide medical services to PPO health plan members at discounted costs. Members can choose to see any doctor at any time. Choosing a non-PPO provider is called ‘going out of network’ and will cost more than seeing a member of the PPO network.

5.  Learn more. Call the doctor’s office to learn about the doctor’s education and qualifications, office policies and payment procedures.  Pay attention to how the staff treats you.  If, you choose this doctor, you’ll be working with them, too!

6.  Set up an appointment to “interview” the doctor.  You’ll probably have to pay for this appointment, but it’s the time to determine if you think you can work well with him/her.  Do you communicate well?  Does the doctor really listen?   Does he/she give you time to ask questions?

You may want to ask the following types of questions:

• Do you have many older patients?
• How do you feel about involving my family in care decisions?
• Can I call you or email you with questions? Do you charge for this?

7.  Make your choice!  For your first visit be sure to bring the following items:

• Your medical records (or have them sent from your former doctor) – including prior and current medical conditions, prior surgeries, procedures and hospitalizations, and your family’s health history.
• Your list of current medications (or put them in a bag and bring them with you).
• A list of any questions you have about your current health conditions. 

Making the Most of Each Doctor Visit

Once you’ve selected a doctor you trust, you’re still in control of your health!  That means it’s YOUR job to help your doctor help YOU stay in tip-top health.  Use these basic tips to prepare for seeing your doctor:

1. Pay attention to your symptoms – and keep track of them on paper.  What is the location, duration, and character of the discomfort? What brings them on? What aggravates them? What relieves them?  Bring your notes with you to your appointment.

2. Make a list of questions you want to ask.  Work on your list over a few days so you don’t forget anything. Some potential questions:

• What do you think is causing my problem?
• Is there more than one condition (disease) that could be involved?
• What tests will you do to diagnose my problem and which of the underlying conditions are present?
• How accurate are the tests?
• How safe are the tests?
• What is the likely course of this condition? What is the long-term outlook with and without treatment?
• What are my treatment options? How effective is each treatment option? What are the benefits versus the risks of each treatment option?
• If my symptoms worsen, what should I do on my own? When should I contact you?
• Can any of my current medications adversely interact with the medications you are prescribing for me?
• Should we monitor for side effects of the medications that you are prescribing or for their interactions with other medications I am taking?
• How about follow-up care?

3. Take notes.  Write down any information that the doctor gives you. If you don’t understand something, make him explain it to you.  There is no need to be embarrassed if you don’t understand all the terminology.  And, if you write it down, you can look it up later.

4. Never leave the doctors office with unclear instructions on any new medication or condition.  If you forget any questions you have, be sure to call the office back and ask! Your health is too important to ignore.  Don’t ever be embarrassed to ask your doctor anything.

Partnering After Your Doctor Visit

Arriving at an accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment often takes time and may require repeated visits and tests. Be patient and communicate with your doctor. Here are some suggestions:

1. Do not stop prescribed medications on your own, even if your symptoms have resolved.  If your prescription runs out, ask your doctor whether you should obtain a refill.

2. Inform your doctor right away if the prescribed treatment is not helping you, or is causing side effects.  He/she may have to rethink the diagnosis and/or change the treatment.

3.  It’s OK to ask for another opinion. ,If your doctor cannot offer you a firm diagnosis or help you with your symptoms despite repeated visits, it might be a good idea to consult another physician. Most doctors will be glad to help their patients solicit second opinions or specialty consultations.

4. Always ask about your test results.  Never assume that everything must be fine if you do not hear from the doctor’s office.

5. Inform your doctor if you are using alternative medicine or non-prescription remedies.  Some of these remedies may interact with your prescribed medications.

6. Educate yourself with credible and authoritative medical information.  Increasing your own knowledge about the characteristics of your particular condition, your medications, and their side effects can benefit you, your family, and your doctor.

Sources – Partnering with Your Doctor

¹“Talking with Your Doctor:  A Guide for Older People,” www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/talking-your-doctor-guide-older-people

²Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, E-mail: www.aracontent.com — www.senioryears.com/visitdr.html

³“Preparing for your Doctor Visit,” by Karin Fried, January 29, 2010, www.technorati.com/lifestyle/article/preparing-for-your-doctors-visit

⁴ “How To Prepare For Your Doctor Visit,” www.ehow.com