Expert Q&A : General Aging

Dr. John Connolly is President & CEO of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., America's "trusted" source for identifying top doctors. He has an extensive background in management and healthcare. For more than a decade, he was President of New York Medical College where he successfully revitalized the school while insuring its financial security. Dr. Connolly is extensively involved in healthcare activities including serving as a director of the New York Business Group on Health, as founder, a director and past chair of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, as a member of the Presidents Advisory Council of the United Hospital Fund of New York, and as a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. He has also served on the boards of two hospitals and as chairman of the board of one, and is also currently Chairman of Professional Examination Service, Inc. He also is a frequent guest on regional and national TV and radio shows, including 20/20, CNN and Good Morning America.

My father saw a doctor about frequent pain, and was prescribed an "off-label" prescription. The doctor said the drug hasn't actually been approved to treat this problem but was okay. Is this proper? Legal?
"Off-label" prescriptions are certainly legal. But whether or not an off-label use of a medication is appropriate depends on a number of factors which your father's physician has likely considered. Click to read Dr.Connolly's full answer.

I live 1,000 miles away from my elderly father, who needs more day-to-day help than I, with three young children, can provide. What’s a geriatric care manager, and can they help my situation?
Geriatric care managers, GCMs for short, act as a more knowledgeable you--informing you and your parent about what kind of care alternatives are available within the community and helping you assess all the medical, financial and legal issues involved with any given choice. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

Prostate cancer runs in my father’s side of the family. Is there anything he can do now to hopefully avoid it altogether?
While there is no easy way to guarantee your father will avoid the development of prostate cancer, there has been much research lately that, at the very least, can help the odds. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

My mother is 71, and her hands and feet are in a lot of pain. Pain medicine isn't an option. Do you think magnetic therapy for arthritis pain is promising?
From the sheer numbers alone of companies hawking magnetic therapy products, it's easy to believe that hard scientific evidence supports the many claims. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

What are the pros and cons of Medicare HMOs? Can my parents keep their current doctor?
You might be able to choose your current physician as your "gatekeeper," maintaining the good doctor/patient relationship you seem to have. Still, getting the doctor you want should be only one criterion in deciding whether to join a Medicare HMO. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

My mother described an incident that sounded like a stroke but which left her only a bit dazed. I think she may have had a mini stroke. Should she see a doctor as soon as possible?
You haven't related exactly what your mother described, but if any of the details do match what you have heard about strokes, by all means she should see her doctor at once. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

My 82-year-old mother lives alone. She takes a lot of medications and I am worried that she might not take the proper pills at the proper times. What can I do?
Elderly people are most definitely at an increased risk for problems related to the use of prescription drugs, nonprescription (or over-the-counter) medicines, and herbal or other alternative medicines. The sheer number of drugs they take contributes significantly to problems associated with noncompliance, drug interactions or adverse drug reactions, and the misuse of medications. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

My mother, 75, has seen the same family doctor for 20 years. I’ve heard of doctors who specialize in treating the elderly. Should I look into this for her?
Treating older adults is very different from treating younger patients. The elderly are more prone to disease and decreased physiological function. You might very well consider seeing a geriatrician. Click to read Dr.Connolly's full answer.

Should I really be concerned about the expiration date on medications?
You bet there's something to expiration dates. There are well-known ways that certain products show their age. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

My 75-year old mother was recently widowed. She's in good health, but I am concerned about her being isolated. What can I do?
When an elderly person who lives alone does not need nursing care or home care, but does need companionship and some kind of daily routine, adult day care may be the solution. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

My parents are at retirement age. Should I get long-term care insurance?
Nobody ever wants to go into a skilled-nursing facility (SNF), or nursing home. Few people ever truly want to send a parent to one. Yet for a variety of reasons sometimes there is no alternative. You are wise to consider your parents' options even if both of them are now healthy. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.

My mom's OB/GYN recommended she get a DEXA test, for measuring bone density. Is she at risk for osteoporosis?
Those test results will tell her how aggressive to be in helping you ward off osteoporosis, which affects half of all women over 50. Click to read Dr. Connolly's full answer.