THE SENIOR HEALTH QUANDRY

All seniors need reliable health information. It's out there, but it's not always easy to find. Even if we get to the best sources, we may not be able to find the precise information we need.

TO BE WELL, BE WELL INFORMED.

Calmly Skip the self diagnosis.

We all know the saying that the doctor who treats himself has a fool for a patient, so what do we say about patients without any medical training who diagnose their own illnesses? Of course, many of us think that, after years of “doctoring” for a whole list of infirmities, we might as well have a medical license. At least we know the signs and symptoms of many of our long list of maladies. We also think we know best about what’s left of our own bodies with all their additions, subtractions, and substitutions of plastic and enough metal to raise terror alerts at any airport.

But. . .

Are you sure that new pain is just another symptom of the same old problem?

Is your friend with similar symptoms really the best person to give you medical advice?

Are you tempted to try the latest OTC remedy that keeps showing up in magazines and on TV?

Do your homework.

Start with what you know about your own health and wellness; but don’t trust your own judgment, at least not absolutely. (Remember that doctor who treats himself.) Research your medical concerns in the most reliable sources available to you, but use the information you find to raise better questions with your doctor rather than assuming that you “know” what is wrong with you.

Prepare for your visit to the doctor.

Take a copy of the paper from your vial of life with you to the doctor’s office to make sure you have all the information about your medications, allergies, and insurance information with you and in one place.

Go to the doctor with notes, questions and concerns in writing.

Prioritize that list. Too often we leave the most important question until last and then don’t get enough time for a complete and understandable answer.

Ask your doctors if you may send your questions to them in advance so they will be prepared to respond to your concerns when you arrive for your appointments.

Leave lots of space on the paper to record the doctor’s answers.

Ask for the correct spelling of unfamiliar words or ask the doctor to print them for you. Keep asking until you know you have them right and can actually read them.

Ask if you may call and talk to the doctor or a nurse if you have additional questions after you get home.

Make sure that you have someone with you when you talk with the doctor. Two sets of eyes and ears are better than one, especially given the state of sight and sound for many of us.

And that leads us to: A PORTAL TO THE PORTALS

Most of the best medical sites are organized for those who may already know more than we do about medicine and health. Sometimes we are just trying to track down information on an elusive ailment and can get lost in a dense sea of complex and incomprehensible data. Even if we know enough to search for a more specific topic, we might not have the right term or the right spelling. Sometimes we locate accurate information but still can't make sense of it.

The web pages below are good places to start your search for reliable, up-to-date information on health and wellness. They are a sampling from websites you will find in the Lancaster portal, taking you to subsets that deal specifically with seniors within large comprehensive sites.

The Lancaster County Public Libraries have formed a partnership with Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Ephrata Community Hospital, and the United Way of Lancaster County. This portal to health information on the Internet is funded in part by a LSTA (Library Service and Technology Act) Grant from Pennsylvania Commonwealth Libraries. As a result of this alliance, a new Health Information Network Portal is offered to Lancaster County communities providing reliable health information to all.

The NIH Senior Health Website was developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine, both part of the National Institutes of Health. What is most exciting in this portal is the ability to HEAR what is on the page. If you click on any part of the text, a voice reads that text. It also allows the user to increase the contrast and the font size to improve readability. Be sure to check these features at the top of the page when you enter this website.

Philly Health Info This is a comprehensive portal directory of health services, events and information for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. It offers a very sound list of resources and explanations of health concerns.

Mayo Clinic with link to Senior Health Center Information You will be able to locate information on diseases and conditions that affect older adults and what you can do to stay healthy.

Mayo Senior Health offers 2 tools (tests) for seniors that are easy to take. When reviewing your results, you find additional information that may be quite helpful

“Aging: What to Expect As You Get Older” This Mayo Clinic webpage offers helpful insights on isues and problems of aging.

Index on Diseases A Mayo Clinic webpage that is relatively easy to use to locate reliable information on diseases and conditions seniors often face.

The Johns Hopkins Medical Desk Reference Website provides valuable links to extensive information on health issues. This alphabetical index helps you find the information you are seeking through Hopkins and its health system, and points out other potentially useful sites.

The Consumer Meds Safety Organization Website This resource is brought to you by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)—the nation's only nonprofit organization of pharmacists, nurses, and doctors devoted entirely to safe medication practices. Preventing medication errors is no longer just a responsibility for health professionals—consumers like you can also play a vital role. Use this linked page to submit a list of medicines for a safe and quick check.