Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; you have some control.

Last week I attended a talk given by an expert on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Having taking care of my dad and my aunt (at the same time), both of whom suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, I wasn’t expecting to walk away feeling encouraged. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

What I learned was actually very uplifting

The good news: you can control all but 2 of the risk factors of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

(And, the added benefit is they are things you should do to be healthy anyway.)

What risk factors are beyond your control?

Your age

Your gender (women are at higher risk)

What are the risk factors you can do something about?

Physical inactivity

Depression (untreated)

Smoking

Mid-life hypertension

Mid-life obesity, high BMI, high cholesterol

Education

Diabetes

I can’t think of a better reason to dust off your unfinished list of New Year’s Resolutions and start taking care of yourself.

Get moving. Take a class. Stop smoking. Join a gym. Talk to a doctor about treatment for your depression or diabetes. Ask your doctor to help you with blood pressure or cholesterol. Ask for help if you need it.

Your body will thank you, your family will thank you and you’ll feel better knowing your are improving your health and reducing your risk of getting Alzheimer’s Disease.

If you are struggling to care for an aging parent who has Alzheimer’s disease or memory care issues and are looking for a Senior Living community in the Denver Metro area that specializes in Memory Care, ReAssured Advocacy can help. Unlike senior housing placement firms we do not accept commission from the facilities. We work for you. That means you get unbiased information and have access to all communities including those that don’t pay commissions. Call us today at 303-756-8436.

October 26, 2013 is Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Do you have unused or expired medication?

Turn in your unused or expired medication on October 26, 2013 – 10AM to 2PM

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

To find a location near you go to: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

Why is disposal of unused or expired medications important?

If you are a caregiver or relative caring for an older adult you may have been faced with helping clean out a medicine cabinet. Seniors sometimes get confused and could easily take a wrong medication, which could lead to a fall or serious health issue. While removing these medications is a worthwhile project people don’t always dispose of the medication safely.

Whatever you do, don’t flush the medications. Why?

Drugs that are flushed become part of the water supply and environment through a natural leeching process. Not only can these substances impact the water supply but they can also impact fish and other animals. Flushing is a bad idea but so is throwing medications in the trash. By throwing them in the trash, you increase the chance that they can get into the wrong hands, whether it is a young child a pet or a drug abuser.

So what do you do if you have medications to dispose of but miss the PrescriptionTake Back Day?

If you miss the Take Back Day there are simple and safe ways to dispose of your medications. The EPA has developed a flyer with easy to follow guidelines for household disposal. These guidelines ensure safety and protect the environment.

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/ppcp/upload/ppcpflyer.pdf

Proper disposal of drugs can prevent the damaging the environment and keep them out of the wrong hands. Take the time to find an event in your area or follow the EPA guidelines for safe disposal.

If you have an aging parent in the Denver, Colorado metro area who is having trouble managing medications and navigating the healthcare system ReAssured Advocacy can help. Call us today at 303-756-8436.

A Dose of Reality—Today’s Doctor’s Appointment

In the “old” days, we could phone for a primary care doctor’s appointment in the morning, be seen right away, spend enough time with the doctor, leave with a treatment plan, and usually feel better within a day or two.

But no longer! Today it’s difficult to get an appointment, even within a few days. We sit in waiting rooms far longer than we expect. Then when we finally see the doctor, we often feel like we’re being rushed out the door.

We patients tend to blame our doctors and the way they run their practices. Why should we have to wait so long? Why won’t they spend more time with us? What’s the big hurry?

The truth is, your doctor doesn’t like today’s limited time system either. He would love nothing more than to be able to make immediate appointments, see you the moment you arrive in his office, and spend plenty of time with you, too. But the insurance reimbursement system doesn’t make that possible.

Last week I had the opportunity to work with personnel at North and Northeast Medical Centers. I was asked to help them help us patients manage this time-constrained reality we are all stuck with to improve patient satisfaction. I suggested some steps they can take to help their patients get the most from their doctor appointments.

But the patient-provider relationship is two sided. We patients need to take our responsibilities in that relationship more seriously, too.

We can do so by preparing ahead of our doctor appointments:

First – Write down anything that is new since your last doctor appointment. New symptoms, new aches or pains, new supplements you’re talking, drugs another doctor has prescribed, or new triggers you’ve discovered that create problems for you. Record them along with the dates they started.

Second – Take a list of every drug and supplement you take, including brand names and dosages. Note any that will need renewal within the next 90 days. Or, instead of listing them, throw the containers into a bag and take them with you.

Third – Write down your questions. Prioritize them since you’ll only have time to ask two or three. If you have more than one medical problem, and therefore extra questions, then make an additional appointment.

Being a prepared patient will make every interface with your doctor more effective and efficient. You’ll be more likely to get what you need – a collaboration that’s beneficial to you and your doctor.

Are you confused about making the most of your doctor appointments, finding the right specialist, getting a second opinion, understanding a diagnosis or treatment options? Call us today 303-756-8436.

Reprinted with permission from Trisha Torrey, Every Patient’s Advocate: www.EveryPatientsAdvocate.com

Don’t Let Medical Test Results Fall Through the Cracks

A few years ago, I changed primary care doctors.

The one I left had good credentials. Over the span of a few years and several visits, she had seemed competent and was friendly.

But on my final visit, there had been a change that caused me to leave her practice. It came in the form of a sign which hung on the walls in all of her exam rooms. It said, “Please do not phone us for your test results. We will call you if there is a problem.”

I was stunned; although I knew immediately why she imposed that policy. It costs time and money to phone all those patients, make copies and mail them. She decided the expense wasn’t worth the failsafe. As her patient, I found that to be dangerous and unacceptable.

A study published in 2008 illustrates why this is a problem. It focused on mistakes made during the ordering, administering and reporting processes of primary medical care tests. The report showed that seven percent of medical test results that went unreported to the patient resulted in additional problems for that patient including delays in treatment, further pain and suffering, and more out-of-pocket expense.

Evidently my former primary care doctor finds it acceptable to intentionally drop the ball on care for seven percent of her patients. Those weren’t odds I was willing to accept.

Few of us visit our doctors anymore, primary care or specialists, without being tested for something. Blood work, urine tests, a CT, MRI or any other test…. No matter whether the results are perfectly normal, or identify a problem, we need to know where we stand and what to change, if necessary. Their results are always important, and we patients must always know what they are.

When you are given any sort of medical test, ask how and when the results will be reported to you. Don’t accept a “don’t call us” reply. When they phone you with results, ask for a follow-up copy by email or postal mail. If you don’t hear back when they say you will, call the office of the doctor who ordered the test and bug them until they come through.

Doctors’ practices are becoming busier than ever. It’s easy for test reporting efforts to drop through the cracks. Don’t let your medical test results be among them.

If you are overwhelmed by a complex diagnosis or are having trouble understanding medical test results for you or a loved one in the Denver Colorado metro area, ReAssured Advocacy can help. Call us today at 303-756-8436.

Reprinted with permission from Trisha Torrey, Every Patient’s Advocate: www.EveryPatientsAdvocate.com

A Patient Advocate by Your Side

Imagine… you suffer chest pains and are swept off to the ER. The pain meds leave you too groggy to make good decisions.

Or… difficult symptoms result in a diagnosis that leaves you stunned. You leave the doctor’s office remembering very little of what you’ve been told.

Or… you’ve begun to find it confusing to keep track of all your medications. You’re concerned you’ll make a mistake. Your loved ones live too far away to be much help.

What will you do?

These are just a few of many scenarios that require us to find some assistance to be sure we get the best care and stay safe.

These are the times that call for a patient advocate, someone else who can help us understand our medical status, sort through options, support our decision-making, sit by the bedside in the hospital, or take care of overwhelming details ranging from making appointments to reviewing medical bills.

So who can fill that role?

Some of us are lucky enough to have a family member who can advocate for us. A spouse, parent, adult child… Someone who can remove some of the pressure, allowing us to focus on healing. Unless you think emotions will interfere with their capabilities or objectivity, a family advocate might be a good choice.

Maybe you have a friend who has a medical background, or is generously willing to stick up for you and your medical needs. Or, your pastor, rabbi, neighbor or co-worker may know of someone who can help.

In the past few years, we’ve seen a rise in the numbers of professional, private patient advocates. Some of them have nursing or other medical backgrounds. They may accompany you to medical appointments, or sit by your side in the hospital. Others are experts in researching treatment options, or getting permission from insurers for procedures that have been denied.   Professional patient advocates work for, and are paid directly by the patient or a caregiver. Insurance won’t cover their services, but for those who can afford one, their assistance can be priceless.

This holiday season you’ll probably spend time with family. It’s a great time to raise the question about who will be available to advocate on your behalf when necessary. A family member? A neighbor? Or a professional patient advocate?   The conversation will help you count your blessings, and bring you peace of mind.

If you are overwhelmed by the challenges of managing the care for an aging parent or someone with a serious or complex diagnosis. ReAssured Advocacy can help. Call us today at 303-756-8436.

Reprinted with permission from Trisha Torrey, Every Patient’s Advocate: www.EveryPatientsAdvocate.com