How To Talk With Your Healthcare Provider

Introduction

You are the most important member of your health care team. Learning ways to talk with your healthcare providers is important to getting the care you want. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is important in your life, or what you worry about not being able to do.

This can help guide the conversation around treatment options, and if the risks and benefits of those treatments match your preferences. This section includes a checklist of important questions and other resources that can help with decisions around issues such as end of life care.

Resources

Preventing Falls: Tips for Older Adults and Caregivers

The National Council on Aging has many falls prevention tips. Visit Preventing Falls: Tips for Older Adults and Caregivers to watch a short video that explains 6 steps to prevent a fall.

Walking Tips for Older Adults

Health in Aging’s tip sheet on walking provides tips on how to get started walking no matter your mobility level, and how to walk safely.

Cane vs. Walker: What’s Better for Me?

As people age, they’re at a greater risk for many eye diseases and conditions — but vision loss doesn’t have to be a normal part of aging. The National Eye Institute has many resources, both in Spanish and English, on topics such as preventing eye diseases as you get older, vision changes as you age, and dilated eye exams.

Advance Care Planning Handout

This Advance Care Planning handout created from Empath Health and the FSU COM NCF-GWEP helps define terms around advance care planning and provides conversation starters and questions on getting your affairs in order.

Similar Resources

Mobility

Staying active is an important piece of staying healthy. Learn more about how to maintain mobility and prevent falls so that you can stay active.

Social and Mental Health Support

COVID-19 has certainly cause concern for everyone. Fortunately, there are local, state, and national resources designed to help older adults with their specific needs. Below are resources grouped by needs to help older adults stay well and stay connected!

Department of Geriatrics at FSU College of Medicine awarded $5 million for age-friendly workforce training

The Department of Geriatrics at the Florida State University College of Medicine continues to lead efforts to reshape health care to serve older patients’ unique needs.

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