Your Doctor Wants to Know You

How to Get Better Health Care
Your guide to asking the right questions. We have all left a doctor’s office feeling like we were rushed through an appointment or later feeling like we need more information. This leaves us considering:

* Other questions that didn’t get asked
* Symptoms that didn’t get a chance to be revealed
* What we don’t understand about the diagnosis or treatment plan
* Other health conditions that may be important for the doctor to know about
* Preventive care options for avoiding health issues in the future

This guide will help you avoid these common issues and give you the tools to take charge of your health care and create a successful relationship with your doctor. It provides a list of the right questions for you to ask your doctor before, during and after your visit as well as accompanying forms for listing your symptoms, medications, and other health care providers. The guide helps you organize your thoughts and information prior to seeing your doctor so you are better prepared to communicate not only what is important to you, but also what is significant for the doctor to know in order to provide the best care for you. Initiating better communication with your physician is easy with this guide and offers the potential for better health care results.

To read the rest of this article, follow the hyperlink below

http://www.csa.us/email/spirit/ssarticles/1210SSMedNews.html

A Laugh for the Holidays-Maxine's Health Care Plan

Seniors Accentuate the Positive in Life

Many adults expect to feel a sense of loss, or even depression, as they enter old age. But rather than experiencing unhappiness about the effects of aging, many seniors report an increased sense of peace and contentment. Instead of feeling limited, they feel liberated.

It's well established that how we think affects how we feel. For example, simply smiling can actually make a person happier. Older adults can use this approach to focus on positive emotions and suppress negative emotions, to enhance their overall emotional well-being. By directing their intellectual resources toward their emotional goals, seniors can improve their present emotional state.
Enjoying the "golden years"

Rather than longing for the "good old days," seniors are enjoying their golden years. According to a study conducted by ExtendHealth, a Medicare exchange provider, only 3 percent of 471 retirees surveyed said they miss their jobs, and only 2 percent said they have too much free time.

The fact that older adults often see their lives in a positive light provides a great opportunity for those who work with seniors. Caregivers and professionals can often provide resources that support seniors' connections to their families, friends, community and social networks and thus enhance their emotional well-being.

In addition, because seniors often make decisions on more emotional than intellectual levels, it's important to make positive emotional connections with them. Caregivers and professionals can benefit by presenting their services as positive enhancements to older adults' lives.

Effects of Summer Heat on Elderly

Summer for most is a season that holds great enjoyment, with the anticipation of picnics, vacations and outdoor events. But for older adults, summer can threaten overall health and wellness. Elderly individuals are much more vulnerable to illnesses related to sun and heat exposure. Dehydration, sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are just a few hazards of warm weather months.

Why are older adults at greater risk for heat related illnesses? There are a number of factors that contribute to this:

* Lack of hydration - some older adults with health conditions must adhere to fluid restrictions, thus increasing the risk of not drinking enough liquids. Additionally, some older adults refrain from drinking adequate amounts of water because it is a hardship for them to make frequent trips to the bathroom.
* As adults age, their skin becomes increasingly more fragile, which makes overexposure while in the sun a threat.
* Older adults who hesitate to turn on their air conditioning for fear of running up the electric bill may ultimately be suffering in unventilated, hot environments.
* As individuals age, their bodies don't adjust as well to temperature changes.
* Some prescription medications can impede the body's ability to perspire when needed.

Below are some tips to make sure that the older adult you love and care for remains safe and healthy throughout the summer:

* Take regular cool showers or baths.
* Drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages every day. Ask your primary care physician about necessary fluid restrictions.
* Assure adequate resting time.
* Wear lightweight clothing - discourage sweaters and heavy layers.
* Provide a well ventilated, air-conditioned environment when necessary.
* Use sun block and sun screen while outdoors. Don't forget about a hat to shade the top of the head or thinning hair.
* Offer assistance with strenuous activities such as gardening, mowing and walking to destinations.
* Check in with your loved-one regularly.

Geriatric care managers can provide the much needed peace of mind for family members who are not able to check in regularly with their aging loved-ones by acting as the eyes and ears for family members. They can identify risk factors and implement strategies to reduce the risk of a crisis. For more information or to make a referral, call 612-396-5473

Free Spring Shredding Event

Where: The Colony at Eden Prairie
When: Tuesday May 4, 2010
Time: 1-3 p.m.

All shredding will be done immediately on-site. Bring all of your papers documents and any mail you want to shred.

Refreshments will be Served.

Sponsored by:

Along Life's Path
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Neil Kingsbeck, Funeral Preplanner
Seversen, Sheldon Elder Care Attorneys
St. Joseph Sent Me
Twin Cities Senior Relocation and Transition Specialists
Liz Rosenberg, Massage Therapist

Starting the Conversation with Your Parents

Here are some tips to help you start a difficult conversation with your Mom or Dad. This may be about nursing home placement, funeral pre-planning or just obtaining health care at home:

1. Acknowledge the difficulty of the situation
Changing roles
Difficult subject

2. Look at the facts- be gentle and sensitive(if there is resistance back up and create a safe space before proceeding)

3. Ask questions- be curious- look for ways to have the senior control the conversation

4. Identify the outcome you are both looking for-the future you want to create. Be open to their thoughts and thinking outside the box.

5. Inquire into what would help the senior create the next stage of their life as the Best part of their life.

6. Develop concrete action items that don't overwhelm.

Remember, it takes courage, compassion and generosity to make a good conversation and a willingness to change your mind.

Provided by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors. http://www.csa.com