Medicine Advisor
Boomer and Senior information on getting medical care, and avoiding and dealing with diseases.
Long-Term Care Insurance: Are You Covered? Really?
Long-term care insurance -- whether you have it, how much it covers, and for how long -- determines how well you'll be taken care of when you can't take care of yourself.
Take the Guesswork Out of Managing Multiple Medicines
Managing multiple medicines can be a daunting task. But, by knowing a few key things about each individual medicine your parent is taking, you can help eliminate the guesswork involved in managing many different medications and making sure these medicines work their best.
A Little More Conversation
Adult incontinence is much more prevalent in the United States than you might think. According to the National Association of Continence (NAFC, 2006), approximately 25 million adults in this country have experienced incontinence at some point in their lives. In fact, this number may be higher as most adults, especially men, won't admit or are embarrassed to discuss this condition with their healthcare provider, family, or friends. And 75-80 percent of those suffering incontinence are women.
Help Children and Teens Cope When a Loved One Has Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease can have a big impact on every member of the family, including children. Each child reacts differently to someone who has Alzheimer's. The young people in your life might have questions about what is happening. It's important for you to take the time to answer these questions openly and honestly.
Learn the Truth About Hospice Care for Advanced Illness
Hospice and palliative care services focus on meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of a person with advanced illness, and also provide support for the patient's loved ones. Care can be provided wherever the patient resides, including the person's home, residential or skilled nursing facility, or assisted living environment.
Patients With Dignity
As a nurse, I make it a priority to maintain the dignity of my patients. But to my shock, I was faced with a whole new situation when my mother was hospitalized several years ago and was not able to care for herself.
Know If You're Covered In a Medical Emergency
ADVISOR ANSWERS
Q: My mom is insured through a Medicare HMO; however, the hospital closest to her home is not in her HMO's network. What do we do if there's an emergency? I don't know if we would instruct the ambulance to go to a different hospital -- is that even possible or advisable? She doesn't want to get hit with a big hospital bill because she isn't covered.
-- Willa M., Rainbow, California
The Defibrillator: Learn About It and Save a Life
You've seen it on hundreds of TV shows -- paramedics arrive on the scene to tend to a heart-attack victim, and they whip out an electrical device that seems to jump-start the patient back to life. Could you jump into the paramedic's place to save that heart-attack victim's life?
Disaster Recovery: Medicare Part D Medication Replacement
Q: Will beneficiaries be able to obtain early refills on their Part D medications that were lost or misplaced during a declared emergency?
Save Your Sight
Boomers beware: Scientists predict a surge in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Every year more than two million people in the U.S. discover they have this incurable disease of the retina, which distroys functional vision. By the year 2020, the number of victims might double. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about age-related macular degeneration.
Meet a Vital Boomer: Edward James Olmos
More than 1,000 San Diego County residents attended the "Vital Aging Conference: Caring for Yourself and Others" in June 2007, which featured information on important health concerns for older adults and family caregivers on topics, such as diabetes, nutrition, fitness, legal issues, and stress management. The conference also featured inspiring keynote speaker and vitally aging Boomer himself, Edward James Olmos.
Understand Pre-Diabetes
ADVISOR ANSWERS
Q: What is pre-diabetes? How is it different from Type 2 diabetes?
-- Malcolm M. in Boston, Massachusetts
Help Paramedics Help You
In an emergency, time is crucial. The Vial of Life is a simple yet effective way to quickly get vital medical information into the hands of emergency responders, such as firefighters, paramedics, and police.
A Vial of Life kit contains a medical information form and two stickers. You fill out the medical form, which contains information about any medical issues, allergies, medications, and contact information for your doctors; place the form in a baggie and tape it to your refrigerator door, then place one sticker on the baggie and another on your front door.
Does Aluminum Cause Alzheimer's?
ADVISOR ANSWERS
Q: My sister told me there's a connection between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease and suggested I throw out my aluminum pots and pans. She also told me that there's a lot of aluminum in antiperspirants, and that I should switch to just deodorant. Is this necessary?
-- W.T., Del Mar, California
Decrease the Risk of Blood Clots During Hospital Stays
Every year, approximately 2 million Americans are affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot in the thigh or leg. Approximately 600,000 experience pulmonary embolism (PE). For up to 200,000 of those with PE, the blood clot in the lung proves fatal -- almost twice as many deaths per year as AIDS, breast cancer, and highway fatalities combined. Older adults and those in the hospital are at increased risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
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Advisorama
Everybody wants to save the earth, but nobody wants to help Mom do the dishes.