Healthcare
20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors
We all want the best healthcare that money can buy, but what, if anything, are we doing about it? The one factor that can probably increase your odds of getting the best is you. After all, who will look out for you better than you? The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (U.S. Department of [...]
So, What Can We Flush Down the Toilet?
When I was a kid, flushing things down the toilet was good sport. Of course I was five at the time. Today it seems as though just about nothing, save the obvious, can be flushed. The concern over flushing prescription meds down the drain was amplified last year when the drinking water in 24 major [...]
Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs): Heed the Warning
According to WebMD, ”Approximately 240,000 TIAs per year are diagnosed in the United States.” The online overview explains that “some people call a transient ischemic attack (TIA) a mini-stroke, because the symptoms are like those of a stroke but do not last long. A TIA happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked [...]
What is POLST?
POLST stands for Physician’s Order for Life Sustaining Treatment. A POLST Paradigm form is a brightly colored, medical order form, used to write orders indicating life-sustaining treatment wishes for seriously ill patients. It addresses two needs. It turns treatment wishes of an individual (something you might find on an advanced directive) into actionable medical orders [...]
Where to Find Inexpensive Generic Meds and Why They May Not Be So Cheap in Your State
It’s likely that you’ve heard about grocery stores and pharmacies offering low prices on generic prescriptions, but you don’t know which pharmacy might offer the generic you need. Many, but not all, of the pharmacies have posted the generics that they offer at reduced prices. There are links to some of the major ones below. [...]
Obama’s Agenda: Seniors and Social Security
Since today is inauguration day, we thought it would be a great time to share what President Obama and Vice President Biden have planned for addressing the issues that touch today’s senior citizens. Whitehouse.gov, the official website of Barack Obama, reports that: They will protect Social Security. They will strengthen retirement savings. They will provide [...]
Tips on Helping Manage Prescriptions
First, let’s get the disclaimers out of the way. We’re not doctors, or pharmacists, and if you’re not either, you should always rely on a doctor and/or pharmacist for a final opinion on anything to do with medicines or supplements. In fact, many pharmacy chains offer a number of caregiver tools on their sites, including [...]
Fall Prevention
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2006), “more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States.” They further report that “in 2005, 15,800 people 65 and older died from injuries related to unintentional falls; about 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency [...]
Aging and Fitness
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that although our bodies change as we age, many older adults are able to remain active and alert throughout their lives. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website does a great job of explaining the effects of aging muscles, bones, and joints. Knowing what is happening to our bodies [...]
How Does Your State Support the Aging Population?
The National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA) is a non-profit association representing the nation’s 56 officially designated state and territorial agencies on aging. NASUA’s mission is to, “…advance social, health, and economic policies responsive to the needs of a diverse aging population and to enhance the capacity of its membership to promote the [...]