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Senior
Self-Assessment
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About Senior Self-Assessment
“Ask not what your doctor can do for you, ask what
you can do for your doctor and yourself” (with gratitude to President
John F. Kennedy)
There will never be enough geriatricians - doctors (like me) who
are specially trained to treat older people - to care for our rapidly
aging population. Likewise, there will likely never be enough internists
or family practitioners with similar knowledge to care for older
adults the way they should be cared for and they way they deserve
to be treated.
What to do about this? Older adults need to
take things
into their own hands by watching out for themselves. And
family and friends need to keep an eye on their older loved
ones too.
That's where this Senior Self-Assessment comes
in. I developed it to help you to help yourself. I hope
you, your family, and friends look through it and learn from it. Complete the enclosed forms, assessments, and checklists. Most importantly,
print it out and bring it to your primary care doctor on your next visit. You and your
doctor will both now have better information to address your
most
important health care needs - the ones that affect your
enjoyment of life and your ability to function in the world. And
you will feel more secure and confident that you are doing everything
you can to make your life everything it can be.
I hope this is just the start of a
grassroots geriatrics
effort that will result in healthier, happier, and more functional
older people. Spread the word by talking with others about it. E-mail me to let me know what YOU think and where we can go from
here.
You have A LOT to expect at your age! Don't let
it slip by.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rob Stall Buffalo, NY
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