For most of our lives, we receive the bulk of our healthcare from our primary care physician. But as we age, our healthcare issues can become more complex requiring us to seek care from several physicians who practice more specialized medicine—an ophthalmologist to help improve and preserve sight, a cardiologist to manage heart disease, an orthopedist for problems with aging joints, and an otolaryngologist to treat hearing difficulties, to name just a few.

Making sure treatment by one physician isn’t having a negative impact on other healthcare issues, that medications prescribed by one doctor don’t pose the risk of a dangerous interaction with another drug, and scheduling appointments can become an almost full-time job. This is not how we hoped to spend our retirement years.

Healthcare Issues Confronting an Aging Population

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, people age 65 and older are the fastest growing population group in the U.S. In July 2004, the U.S. Census found 36.3 million people or 12% of the population were age 65 or older. Statistics suggest that by 2030, that number will nearly double, reaching 70 million, which means about 20% of the population will be over 65. In addition, data from 2002 found that life expectancy at age 65 had increased from 16.4 years in 1980 to 18.2 years, meaning more people will be living into their 80s.

As we grow older, our use of healthcare also increases, with people 65 and older accounting for almost 200,000 visits to the doctor each year. In terms of senior healthcare, how can you make navigating the healthcare system a more positive, safer experience?

Take Control of Your Healthcare

To get the best senior healthcare you need to be an active partner in your care. Start by finding a primary care physician who has both strong clinical skills and a willingness to take the time to make sure you understand every step of your treatment and how you can lead a healthier life as you grow older.

Unfortunately, finding that doctor is easier said than done. Most older Americans rely on Medicare to finance their care. Because of the program’s low physician reimbursement rates, many doctors have to see more patients per day to meet their operatingexpenses, decreasing the amount of time they can spend with each patient. It can also take a great deal of research to determine how good a physician’s clinical skills are, so finding the best doctor can be a time-consuming challenge.

Using the vast variety of resources available online, you can research any medical condition and find information on treatments. While arming yourself with a wealth of information can empower you, it can also frustrate you. How can you determine what information is scientifically valid and how can you find a physician with adequate experience with a surgical procedure or treatment regimen?

Senior healthcare experts suggest simple steps to prevent the complications and dangers that can arise when you see more than one physician, including:

making a list of healthcare issues, concerns, and questions to discuss with your doctor before each visit
keeping a copy of the reports and records from all the physicians you see and taking those with you to each visit
gathering together all the medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you take and bringing those with you to each appointment to help avoid drug interactions
taking a family member or close friend with you to appointments to act as a second pair of ears and make sure you can remember everything your doctor says, though this means giving up some of your medical privacy

Work with a Healthcare Advocate

While all of these suggestions are good advice for those concerned with senior health care, it’s not always practical or even desirable for you to spend your time micromanaging your healthcare issues. If you’re ill or confronted with a serious health care issue, it can be difficult to overcome the emotional upheaval and handle the details of your care. In fact, most people would prefer to spend their time in pursuits other than handling their healthcare issues, like working, volunteering, spending time with family, or traveling.

For more and more people, working with a healthcare advocate offers them the opportunity to partner with a caring expert who can do the research, appointment scheduling, and record gathering and management on their behalf.

Explains John Hutchins, one of the founders of the preeminent healthcare advocacy firm PinnacleCare: “Many people, including individuals and families dealing with senior healthcare, have multiple problems being managed by several doctors, so no one physician is treating the whole patient. By creating a comprehensive service that provides objective, high quality professional health management 24/7, we are able to help people who are confused by the vast array of treatment options and the complexity of medical information. Our Members have the 24-hour support of a personal PinnacleCare Advocate^TM Team of professional patient advocates, accelerated access to top doctors, counseling on the latest treatment options, including alternative medicine, and handling of all their appointments and paperwork."

Hutchins points to the experience of a Member whose 79-year-old mother had become increasingly dizzy, forgetful, and weak. Conflicting diagnoses and multiple medications prescribed by various Medicare physicians confused both the Member and his mother. The PinnacleCare Member, realizing that he did not have the experience or time to manage the situation himself, decided to purchase a PinnacleCare Membership for his mother, enabling an experienced PinnacleCare Advocate to assist with the frustrating situation. After the mother's PinnacleCare Advocate scheduled a thorough exam and had the mother's medical records reviewed by the Head of Geriatrics at a world-renowned Center of Excellence, the family finally received an accurate diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan.