Dr. Thomas Cudjoe specializes in geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins. He says that support is critical for older patients.
Credit: Courtesy Photo
Jacquetta George is a certified registered nurse practitioner who practices family medicine at Medstar Health. She tells the AFRO that it is important to review medications and she does so with patients often.
Credit: Courtesy Photo
By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Staff Writer
After decades of facing various social, economic, racial and health disparities, it’s no surprise that some Black elderly patients are hesitant to visit the doctor for regular screenings or may not always know what to ask. This month the AFRO spoke with medical professionals to discuss the importance of preparation prior to appointments, regular screenings and medication questions to consider before each appointment.
Preparation
For Dr. Jacquetta George, a certified registered nurse practitioner who practices family medicine at Medstar Health, the advice for those preparing for an appointment is to write down any essential questions that they feel need to be answered. “That’s how they can remember the important stuff,” George told the AFRO.
For Dr. Thomas Cudjoe, who specializes in geriatric medicine at Johns Hopkins, preparation can be especially important—particularly for those who bring a “medical visit companion,” such as a friend, family member or other trusted advocate to support their needs. “Sometimes people that are close to us can notice things that we can’t,” Cudjoe said.
He added that having appointments be something that is discussed in advance with consistent planning and scheduling can make room for both the patient and their advocate to discuss what the patient’s needs are and ensure they are addressed. He expressed the importance of planning and engaging with the patient without overtaking the visit. He also advised advocates to reflect with the patient following the appointment.
Medications
Both doctors interviewed by the AFRO noted the importance of discussing and reviewing medications during each visit as it provides an opportunity for deprescribing.
According to the U.S. Deprescribing Research Network, a project co-led by Johns Hopkins University funded by the U.S. National Institute on Aging to improving research on deprescribing for older adults, “deprescribing refers to the thoughtful and systematic process of identifying problematic medications and either reducing the dose or stopping the medication in a manner that is safe, effective, and helps people maximize their health and wellness goals.”
George also talked about the importance of education on medications that are still needed.
“I always go over their medications with them, but them learning their medications and not just saying the ‘blue pill,’ the ‘red pill’ ,” said George.
George said it’s critical to know how each medication works, what it’s for, and being sure to ask if there are any more affordable options if needed.
Screenings and why they shouldn’t be skipped
Lastly, both doctors expressed the importance of screening, especially for all types of cancers. George mentioned that most cancer screenings must be done until at least age 70.
“Lung cancer screenings through a CT scan are available for anyone who has a smoking history,” said George. “Usually with that smoking history, depending on how much they smoked, the insurance will cover a lung cancer screening.”
She highlighted colorectal cancer screenings as it is a rising cause of cancer-related death in the Black community.
Additionally, George emphasized the importance of yearly blood screenings because it can help detect health issues people might not immediately feel like high or low cholesterol, kidney function issues and anemia.
“Just the blood test in general for a routine blood draw can help us see into the future,” said George.
Although forgetfulness as one ages is normal, there are some symptoms that require a neurological consultation, according to George.
Forgetting how to return to a vehicle, repeatedly asking the same questions, or a person being told they are frequently repeating themselves is not normal. Similarly, losing track of basic daily activities or experiencing total disorientation—such as forgetting the purpose of a trip to the store or becoming lost in familiar settings—are serious indicators that professional medical advice is needed.
Cudjoe noted that sensory screenings for vision and hearing are important and should be taken as a patient feels they need it. George said lack of consistent vision screenings can pose a minor threat to safety by causing falls, which then raised the concern of bone density screenings. George mentioned that the lower a person’s bone density, the more likely they are to be injured from a fall.
Cudjoe said that osteoporosis assessments are most needed for women 65 and older and are provided through a dexiscan. Post menopausal women younger than 65 should also be screened especially if they have risk factors such as a family history, or hormonal conditions such as a recurring missed menstrual cycle when they still experienced periods.
