“Challenging the Conventional Wisdom About Helping Our Aging Parents: A Geriatrician’s Perspective”
Over a decade ago, I shifted my focus to address the growing gap in geriatric care. With over 54 million Americans over 65 and only 7,000 geriatricians like me and Dr. Bill Thomas, there is a clear shortage. As boomers age, this gap will widen. This scarcity contributes to the lack of reliable advice for common health challenges faced by older adults.
Recognizing this need, I founded Better Health While Aging (BHWA), a website and podcast designed to provide accurate, practical information for those seeking answers about age-related health challenges. It became evident to me that adult children often struggle with concerns about aging parents – from memory loss to safety issues.
Families often find themselves in difficult situations, with differing priorities and perspectives. Despite this, signs of cognitive and other decline should not be dismissed as “normal aging.” As a geriatrician, I understand the importance of investigating and assisting when such signs appear, and I have worked to guide families through these challenging times.
Together with Paula Spencer Scott, I wrote a practical guide, “When Your Aging Parent Needs Help: A geriatrician’s guide to memory loss, resistance, safety worries and more,” to consolidate valuable information for families in one convenient place. This resource offers an effective approach based on our practices in geriatrics, including communication strategies, assessing cognitive issues, effective interaction with the medical community, and balancing safety and autonomy.
By challenging misconceptions and reframing the role of adult children, we can provide meaningful support to aging parents. It’s my goal to bring this geriatric approach into homes and help families navigate these difficult transitions with empathy and clarity.
