Health Chats
Keeping Seniors Safe and Independent
Tuesday Mar 23, 2010, 05:00PM - 06:00PM (EST)
If you are elderly or disabled, have health concerns, or live alone, how do you maintain your independence and live in your own home safely? If you have a loved one who falls into this category, how do you make sure that they are safe and receive help in an emergency if you're not there 24/7?
In this hour-long health chat, learn how to make your home safer and get medical care when you need it if you live alone. Take steps now to ensure that you are prepared in case of a medical emergency. Get tips on how to set up an environment that addresses your health needs.
For children of elderly parents, learn how to recognize the signs that indicate that your parents may need help. Determine if living alone at home is the correct choice for your parents and what to consider when discussing alternatives. Get tips on how to deal with parents who aren't ready to leave their home.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
A point to make is that your parents might not actually need a RN to come to the home, but a home health aide.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
HOme health aides are a lot cheaper than a RN and provide services such as assitance with dressing, bathing, cooking, etc.
Michael:
Hi - my Mom is taking about 15 different medications and orders them from all over the place. I attended a health fair a few weeks ago and one of the pharmacies was stressing the importance of ordering all your medications from one place, so that your pharmacist can alert you if there are any possible problems with the combination of drugs you are taking. Is this true, or just a way to get you to use their pharmacy?
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
This is a very important question.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
There are a lot of potential interactions with drugs and it is very important that the pharmacist knows what medications your mom is on.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
My suggestion is to pick a pharmacy that your mom is happy with and is convenient.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
If it is a cost issue, meaning that your mom gets different drugs cheaper at different pharmacies, then discuss this with the pharmacist.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Most pharmacies are more than willing to adjust costs of medications to keep you as a patient- they want your buisness.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
So, yes, I would try and get your mom to use 1 pharmacy. Also, it can be very confusing when trying to do refills and such if her medications are spread out amont different pharmacies.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Too much potential for errors in my opinion.
Jhumia:
what causes knee pain all of a sudden in a 60 year old woman?
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Sometimes this can just be caused by twisting or bending the wrong way.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
If ther has been any trauma to the knee or a fall, that could certainly cause pain.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
Another possibility is arthritis- knees get a lot of wear and tear and arthritis is common. I would rest it and if it continus to bother you, then go to your doctor to have it checked out.
ChitChatNine:
What type of coordinator, etc. would help with all the different insurances, paperwork, understanding my mom's health insurances and how they work if something happens where she cannot tend to the paperwork and ins. companies herself?
MedHelp:
This will be the last question of the chat.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
There are social workers and case mangers in hospital and nursing homes that can help you manage this. It is very difficult as out patients to manage all this and can be very confusing.
Bridget A Hewitt, RN:
A lot of times, you need to contact insuranace companies directly with questions. SOme people hire lawyers to help them manage this- it is not an easy task.
MedHelp:
Thank you ADT for sponsoring this chat and if you would more information visit www.adtmedicalalerts.com.
MedHelp:
Please join us for our next Keeping Seniors Safe and Independent chat on April 20, 2010 at 5pm Eastern and 2pm Pacific Standard Time.
MedHelp:
Thank you Bridget Hewitt, RN for answering our questions and all the members who participated!
