Serving Our Seniors Magazine: Oct-Dec 2022

In the book, Retooling for an Aging America: Building the Health Care Workforce, cited “… people 55 and over accounted for 56% of total health spending in 2019, despite making up only 30% of the population. In contrast, people under age 35 made up 45% of the population but were responsible for only 21% of spending.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ books/NBK215401/) In my interview with Dr. Ardeshir Hashmi, Cleveland Clinic Endowed Chair of Geriatric Innovation, he explained, there are only 7,000 Board Certified Geriatricians in the United States. The Cleveland Clinic Center for Geriatric Medicine recognizes that computer technology is how it will make Successful Aging Visits more accessible to more people – especially for rural America. Serving Our Seniors and the Cleveland Clinic Geriatrics are working in partnership to “pilot” the Virtual Successful Aging Visits, at Serving Our Seniors office, for Erie County residents, ages 60+. Currently, Serving Our Seniors is facilitating one appointment per month. Hashmi said, “Aging health care services, in terms of brain health, physical health, de-prescribing medications, making quality of life and life goals the centerpiece of the older person’s health care is what geriatricians are, uniquely, trained to do. Not having access to a geriatrician only makes it more difficult to receive this type of care.” On June 13, 2022, Serving Our Seniors facilitated its first Virtual Successful Aging Visit. Staff set up the technology, Dr. Hashmi logged in to see an Erie County resident and a registered nurse was on site to assist with the appointment. (Read Jeanne’s story on page 20) “What is missed, consistently, in all primary care is when the patient feels a little bit different, i.e., when driving, managing finances, walking, tracking medications, etc... As these small changes occur, physicians and patients fall into this fallacy-thinking that this is just something that comes with age.” Geriatric medicine is focused on finding changes early and having a discussion about what is not normal aging and working to alleviate changes that are impacting day-to-day life. It practices early screening, early testing for providing early prevention, proactively and preemptively. If you are an Erie County resident, age 60+ and would like to arrange for a Virtual Successful Aging Visit, at Serving Our Seniors office call us at 419-624- 1856. Ask to speak with a Senior Advocate Assistant. Appointments are available as of January 9, 2023. Cleveland Clinic Works with Serving Our Seniors to Pilot Virtual Successful Aging Visits By Sue Daugherty Finding a Cure for Alzheimer’s Disease On September 10, 2022, hundreds of people turned out to support the work of the Alzheimer’s Association - NW Ohio Chapter, to raise money to cure Alzheimer’s disease. The goal was to raise $67,000 from this effort. They still have $2,000.00 more to raise if they are to reach their Erie Shores Walk goal. To donate to this cause you can: Send a check payable to The Alzheimer’s Association. In the memo section on the check write Erie Shores Walk for a Cure. Mail it to The Alzheimer’s Association – NW Ohio Chapter, 480 W. Dussel Drive, Suite 150, Maumee, OH 43537 or call 419-537-1999. Or make an electronic donation by going to www.alz.org/events. Scroll down and click on Walk to End Alzheimer’s. It will take you to the page to enter a zip code. Insert 44870. It will take you to the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Erie Shores/Sandusky, Ohio. 4