Getting the Best Care The Insider's Healthcare Podcast

Are you stressed, upset, and distracted worrying about your aging parent? Do they insist on living alone but you are not sure if it is safe? What should you do? How do you do it? This episode of Getting the Best Care The Insider's Healthcare Podcast will get you started on the right track.

As the 7th leading cause of death, diabetes can wreak havoc on the life of a diabetic and their family. The complications of high blood sugar affect every system in the body and can lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, loss of eyesight, and devastating infections. And yet, every day there seem to be new medications that diabetics can use to manage their blood sugar. How can this still be such a devastating illness even with all the research and advances in monitoring and in medicine? It is because diabetics continue to eat carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are practically poison to a diabetic. Hear about a possible solution to maintaining a healthy blood sugar level that will not mean adding more medications!

Sometimes it is hard to have conversations when someone is near the end of their life. Illness may make it impossible, and that is a shame. But if uncertainty or embarrassment is holding you back please take the chance to ask, "Is there something you need to say? Someone you want to talk to? Any burden you need to lay down?" You will be glad you took the chance.

Snoring can indicate a serious problem that can put the noisy sleeper at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and complications after even minor surgery.

The flu isn't pleasant for anyone, but it can be devastating for people over the age of 65, especially if they have medical problems. Listen to why it is vitally important to protect ourselves and others from this dangerous virus.

It is very important to know what you are agreeing to before you sign a consent form in the hospital. This episode gives examples of the process running off the rails for 2 patients.

We often hear people say, "I never want to be a burden to my family." And yet, many of these same people do not take the simple steps necessary to ensure that their loved ones will know what to do in a crisis. Listen to this short episode and learn how easy it is to get started. You can have your own healthcare power of attorney done in less than an hour-no lawyer needed!

Each chapter of life brings with it new challenges. Anyone who has taken home a newborn from the hospital can remember wanting advice as to how to navigate the strange new world of parenthood. There are endless books, magazines, and websites offering the latest in “how to parent.” But as we age, and health concerns add up as well as concerns about losing autonomy and independence and we may not know where to turn for help. Here are some of the best resources I have found for people who are aging, and for those of us who are family care givers.  Click Here for the blog post with the links. 

More than 800 people every day in this country break their hip. Approximately 160 of them will die in the year following the fracture. There are important things to know if you or a loved one suffers a broken hip. Listen to the episodes for important tips on how to avoid the most devastating complications.

Let's face it, having surgery is never fun. But there are some things that you need to know to make the process easier for yourself or for a loved one who you are helping. This episode covers issues like: Why it is so important to NOT eat or drink the day of surgery. What risks smokers face when having surgery. When NOT to sign the consent papers. What time of day you should have surgery. How to get your post-op prescriptions. What to do if you are prescribed ibuprofen.

Family caregivers and others frequently have misconceptions about Palliative care and how it can help a loved one. Tune in to learn how this important resource can be vital to getting the best care for someone you care for.  Also in Episode 8: Shingles, what it is and how to prevent this painful illness from striking you or someone you love. The vaccine is usually covered by insurance and you can get it at Walgreens and many pharmacies without an appointment. Resources discussed include: AARP.org, GetPalliativeCare.org, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html

Having the right questions to ask in order to get the answers you need is important for your healthcare and especially if you are helping an aging loved one with healthcare decisions. Whether you are a family caregiver looking for advice on how you can be a better advocate for your loved one, or if you are going to the doctor for your own appointment this episode will help you to organize your thoughts and get the most of the doctor's visit. Are you confident about how to start a discussion about:                     -Your healthcare goals                                                                     -Advance Directives                                                                         -What screening tests are appropriate                                               -What vaccinations you should get                                                     -The quality of care at the hospital where your doctor would admit you Resources mentioned in this episode:                                                            PrepareForYourCare.org                                                                    HBO Documentary "Bleed Out" by Steve Burrows                                HospitalSafetyGrade.org                              

In this episode of the podcast, we talk about how to give your dad the gift of a conversation. Start with sharing memories while looking at pictures together and then discuss a healthcare power of attorney.  You can go on the website: PrepareForYourCare.org and make a healthcare power of attorney in less than an hour. It is a gift that you give to one another-to him, you are letting him know that you value his point of view and want to honor his wishes. And he is giving you the gift of letting you know what to do should a time come when he cannot speak for himself. For more information go to GettingTheBestCare.com

There are many routine cancer screenings that have saved many lives over the years. But as we age, the recommendations change. It is important for you to know that your age and health status may determine whether getting a mammogram or colonoscopy is advisable. This is especially important information if you are caring for an aging loved one.

The HBO documentary, Bleed Out by Stephen Burrows is a true and unadulterated telling of the saga that his mother, Judie endured after a hip surgery. In this episode, you will learn the questions that could have prevented this tragedy.  I also talk about the new study recently released that makes hospital safety ratings easy to find. This is information that could save your life or the life of a loved one. Here is a link to the USA article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/05/15/leapfrog-hospital-rankings-delaware-patient-safety/3679718002/

Going to the hospital after a fall or after experiencing new symptoms can hold specific risks for people over the age of 70. In this episode, we discuss some of the potential problems for older patients and how to avoid them. We also talk about the 3 Critical Questions to ask whenever a medication, test or procedure is recommended. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as medical advice. 

In this episode, we talk about feeling like a perpetual patient. After going through a sudden health crisis it is easy to get into the habit of being the patient, and passively taking medications and seeing healthcare providers endlessly.  But that comes at the risk of your self-image and can lead to depression. Listen for some tips on how to take back your life and make your goals the centerpiece of all your healthcare! For  more information visit GettingTheBestCare.com 

Margaret Fitzpatrick, MS, RN, CRNA, the author of Getting the Best Care: Rescue Your Loved One from the Healthcare Conveyor Belt, Margaret draws on her over 20 years of experience as a critical care nurse and nurse anesthetist to help you to avoid the common pitfalls that patients and families experience in the healthcare world!  Are you helping an older loved one? Or planning for your own healthcare as you age? This is the podcast for you. Have less stress, make better decisions and prevent the suffering that inappropriate medical interventions can bring as we age.