These came to our attention today: One on hearing aids, and one on polypharmacy.

Polypharmacy can radically affect quality of life as we age. It’s never a bad idea for you, whether you are the patient or the person who helps someone with their health care needs, to ask the health care provider if you/they still need every medication currently prescribed. Doctors don’t always think in that direction, but sometimes less is more.

Same goes with specialists and tests. For most women*, Pap smears are no longer recommended after age 65. If you have had a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus) that included the cervix, you definitely do NOT need Pap smears at all, ever.

Many people over 85 or so, depending on other health factors, can choose whether to continue cancer screening tests like mammograms or PSA (prostate-specific antigen). The fundamental rule is, if the test showed a cancer, would you do anything about it? If so, then consider continuing to test.

*after discussion w/ your health care provider to rule out risk factors for cervical cancer that persist.

Can’t leave without noting that we seniors are woefully under-boosted for COVID. The bivalent vaccine that became available in late summer 2022 is our best defense against serious COVID illness. The stats show that once again, as in the early stages, the mortality rate among seniors tops every other age group. So please, get your booster.