Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 6, 2024 Say nior Say nr Sa y Senior Senio by Jim Miller How to Talk to Your Doctors – and Get Them to Listen Dear Savvy Senior, How can I get my doctors to listen better? I just turned 78, and over the past few years I feel more and more dismissed by my doctors. I know I can’t be the only one who feels this way. Any suggestions? Dissatisfi ed Patient Dear Dissatisfi ed, Communication diffi culties beA WINTER GUEST: This nuthatch takes a break as he feeds on bird suet. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) SOUNDS | FROM PAGE 16 SLIDE VOTE against the opponent. Woo hoo!” We also received this “Shout Out” from Margie Berkowitch: “SHOUT OUT: Hammersmith Quilt Guild has donated 100 pillow cases fi lled with a quilt and goodies to Home for Little Wanderers, North Shore and Dept. of Children and Families in Salem.” Want to “Shout Out” a fellow Saugonian? This is an opportunity for our paper’s readers to single out – in a brief mention – remarkable acts or achievements by Saugus residents or an act of kindness or a nice gesture. Just send an email (mvoge@comcast.net) with a mention in the subject line of “An Extra Shout Out.” No more than a paragraph; anything longer might lend itself to a story and/or a photo. A Winter Concert for Dec. 10 The Saugus Band Parents Association announced another special concert that will be performed at Lemoine-Mitchell Performing Arts Center at Saugus Middle-High School. Here are the details: The High School Band and Chorus Winter Concert will be held on Tuesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. Raffl e basket tickets and band merchandise will be available for purchase at the show. For more information or if you have any questions, please contact saugusbandparents@gmail.com Lions Club continues toy drop-off The Saugus Lions Club organized a toy drop-off to support the Saugus Fire Department’s Annual Toy Drive – through Dec. 7 at Webster First Federal Credit Union at 509 Main St. in Saugus. On Saturday, Dec. 7, children will get to meet Mrs. Claus and Lillie the Lion from 8 a.m. to noon at Webster First Federal Credit Union and enjoy some hot chocolate and snacks. St. Margaret’s Christmas Stroll Dec. 7 St. Margaret’s Church at 431 Lincoln Ave. will hold its annual Christmas Stroll tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 7 ) and Sunday (Dec. 8). On Saturday, we will be serving a meatball sub lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sunday, we will be serving breakfast from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. During the two days we will have raffl es, raffl es and more raffl es and a gifts table with Christmas THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 19 tween patients and their doctors is nothing new. Many older patients feel like their doctors are dismissing their concerns, which can be frustrating and lead to missed diagnoses and delayed care. If you believe your doctor isn’t listening to you, here are some tips off ered by the National Institute on Aging that may help. Prepare for your appointment: Before your exam, make a written prioritized list of any questions and concerns you want to discuss with your doctor, or print any online health research you’ve gathered, and bring it to your appointment so you won’t forget anything. If you’re in for a diagnostic visit, you should prepare a detailed description of your symptoms, when they began and what makes them worse. Be honest and upfront: Even if the topic seems sensitive or embarrassing, it’s important to be honest and upfront with your doctor. You may feel uncomfortable talking about memory loss or bowel issues, but these are all important to your health. It’s better to be thorough and share detailed information than to be quiet or shy about what you’re thinking or feeling. Remember, your doctor is used to talking about all kinds of personal matters. Ask specifi c questions: If you and your doctor aren’t communicating well, ask specifi c questions that require a response. For example: What might have caused the problem I’m dealing with? What’s the specifi c name of my diagnosis? Is the problem serious? Will it heal completely or require ongoing management? What future symptoms might suggest you need emergency care or a follow-up visit? When and how will you receive your test results? If you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask: Can you explain that in simpler terms? Or: Can you give me more details about that? Take someone with you: Bring along a family member or friend to your appointment. Your companion can help you ask questions or raise concerns that you hadn’t considered and listen to what the doctor is telling you and give you support. Be persistent: If your doctor isn’t addressing your questions, repeat them or rephrase them. If you still don’t get anywhere, follow up with one of these statements: “I’m worried that we aren’t communicating well. Here’s why I feel that way.” Or: “I need to talk with you about X. I feel like I can’t. Can we talk about this?” After your appointment, if you’re uncertain about any instructions or have other questions, call or email your health care provider. Don’t wait until your next visit to make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, or anything else that might aff ect your health. For more tips, the National Institute on Aging off ers a free booklet called “Talking with Your Doctor: A Guide for Older Adults” that can help you prepare for an appointment and become a better and more informed patient. To order free copy or see it online, visit order.nia.nih.gov/publication/talking-with-your-doctor-aguide-for-older-adults. Consider moving on: If you’re not making any progress with your doctor and the problem persists, it’s probably time to start looking for a new provider. Depending how unsatisfi ed you are with your care, you could also notify your doctor’s medical group and your insurance company or leave feedback on their online profile. If you’re dealing with a serious issue – like a doctor who prescribes the wrong medication or fails to provide test results in a timely manner – it might be appropriate to fi le a complaint with the state medical board. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ior
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