\u200bSeveral organizations are teaming up to promote age-friendly care. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the John A. Hartford Foundation want to raise awareness. They want to make sure older adults and their families understand how to make sure a care plan suits a person’s needs.<\/p>\n
No two people are the same. Care plans shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all either. You and your parents have every right to urge doctors and other care professionals to meet your parents’ preferences. Consider these two things when coming up with an age-friendly care plan.<\/p>\n
Discuss Prescriptions Openly and Honestly<\/strong><\/p>\n Here’s a good example of why it’s important to talk about medications. A woman’s doctor prescribed a statin to lower cholesterol levels. Shortly after, the muscle pain in her back was so bad she struggled to get out of bed.<\/p>\n Her family assumed the doctor knew what was best and urged her to keep taking them. Her memory started slipping, which concerned them. Statins also can lead to memory loss. After talking to her doctor, her children learned that her cholesterol was only slightly high and that diet and exercise may be just as effective.<\/p>\n Instead of relying on the medication, family caregivers changed her diet to add more fish, grains, and vegetables. They signed the whole family up for Yoga classes. While statins help many people, diet and exercise seemed to be the better option for her.<\/p>\n