Taking Better Care of Your Care

Medications, symptoms, conditions—sometimes your health situation can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused. The best remedy? Ask questions. Ask your health care provider and ask your pharmacist about anything you don't understand.

And don't be embarrassed to bring up symptoms such as incontinence. Your health care provider is there to help you.

Know your problem

Make sure you understand what your health care provider tells you—before you leave the office.

“Studies show people are likely to forget 50 percent of what their doctors tell them,” says Michael Villaire, M.S.L.M., a health care expert in La Habra, Calif. He advises not leaving your doctor’s office until you know what your condition is and how you’re supposed to treat it.

Manage your medicine

Older adults are more likely to need multiple medications for various conditions. To help keep track of your medications, have a system for managing them. Printed daily schedules or pill-box reminders are some ways to manage a complicated schedule.

“In addition, at least once a year take all your medications—including prescription and over-the-counter medicines and any vitamins or herbal pills—to your primary care physician for a review,” Villaire says. “Doing so gives him or her a chance to make sure there are no potential interactions.”

Pick one provider

You should have a single health care provider who coordinates all your care. Make sure your provider is aware of every doctor who’s treating you and what treatment you’re receiving to help avoid interactions, duplicate tests, and confusion.

“Health care is complicated and each of us needs to take responsibility for our care as best we can,” Villaire says. “We also need to be willing to ask for help from family members or friends if we need it.”