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.
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.
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