HEALTHY ELDERS
OLDER PEOPLE ESPECIALLY MUST ADVOCATE FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH, ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS
In our changing healthcare landscape, becoming more educated about your own individual health as well as the healthcare system is increasingly important, especially as you age. That’s one principle John Burton, a geriatrics expert at Johns Hopkins and author of a new book called, ‘Taking Charge of Your Health,’ emphasizes. He says people must then speak up on their own behalf.
BURTON: To be able to assert yourself in situations such as in the hospital, so that you can get the answers to your questions and know what’s best for you. At times of transfer say from hospital to rehabilitation center or hospital to home, that’s a very critical period. Older people are especially vulnerable so the more you know about that the more you can help this complex system perform the way it’s supposed to, so it’s about empowerment of individual patients. :34
Burton says people now must deal with chronic health conditions in a system designed for acute needs. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.
