don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

One of the distinguishing features of a wellness philosophy, or just plain outlook on life if "philosophy" sounds too "high falutin" for your tastes, is a positive focus. Instead of scaring people about the risks and dangers of NOT doing the right things, wellness promoters and enthusiasts emphasize all manner of attractive rewards that follow from DOING the right things. Unlike health education, wellness messages are about the payoffs of a healthy lifestyle, not the price to be paid for being a low-life!

I thought about this when I read a column last week (February 15, 2004) in the Wall Street Journal about "Top 10 Health Mistakes." The list of mistakes was articulated by a California foundation called The Institute for Healthcare Advancement, based on interviews with 500 or so seniors. Alas, the focus of the survey was typical of traditional health education. That is, it focused on what people do wrong rather than what they could do right.

To set things straight, I'll summarize the Institute's list and show how the same information could be presented in a positive manner, with a touch of humor and irreverence, to boot. This wellness spin is, in my view, more likely to motivate seniors and others to take proactive initiatives to feel better instead of simply feeling badly when told they do too little to avoid medical problems. Also, keep in mind that responses given by 500 seniors interviewed by researchers in California may not be representative of seniors everywhere. Maybe only five of the "mistakes" are widely shared, or none for that matter. We don't know.

Here is the summary of the reported "mistakes," followed by my alternative list of "wellness opportunities."

1. Driving after senility sets in.
2. Denial that you have deteriorated (failure to utilize hearing aids, wear dentures, for examples).
3. Withholding relevant information from caregivers (for instance, not telling your doctor you can't perform sexually as well as you'd like-but who can?)!
4. Failure to persist, that is, seek clarifications, in order to understand treatment protocols and the like.
5. Resisting the need to be cautious, including the redesign of living space, to avoid falls.
6. Failure to obtain simplified, illustrated and otherwise detailed instructions and reminders for managing medication--and to insure that doctors are aware of drugs being taken.
7. Not having a primary doctor who oversees all medical care.
8. Ignoring a variety of warning signs of one problem or another. 
9. Not participating in prevention programs, such as getting flu and other shots and checkups.
10. Not asking for help when you need it.

Make no mistake--these are serious mistakes, omissions and lost opportunities. However, my sense is that the same messages could be delivered in upbeat, positive ways, stressing the advantages of taking initiatives rather than beating up on old people for being obstinate about common sense precautions. With that in mind, how about this list of top ten wellness opportunities--wouldn't you prefer to get this kind of message than the style delivered in the WSJ article?

1. Let others do the driving--sit back and enjoy the ride! Driving is a drag. It's stressful, dangerous and expensive. Besides, now that you are so old, if you get in a crash, everyone will assume it's because you are senile! Avoid the aggravation--let others do the work. You have earned the right to be chauffeured about.
2. Geological change over time shapes mountain peaks--and time changes you, too! You live in a modern age so take advantage of technological aides that can keep you functionally younger, longer.
3. Doctors are paid to hear about your intimate problems of a personal nature. Give them an earful! Make your symptoms sound much worse than they are, just for fun. Then tell the real story--your problems won't seem so bad. The fact is you should get your money's worth by having the doctor evaluate all concerns, real and imagined, to see if there might be larger problems, or maybe no problems at all, thus freeing you to live it up and take more chances in enjoyable ways
4. Get the doctor to write down his/her recommendations in plain English or whatever language you prefer. Don't let the doctor get away with using big words that confuse you.
5. Become an "ecospace design engineer!" Bring in family members, friends and others to give advice on ways to make your home more conducive to wellness, so you can exercise more and eat better--and avoid falls and other hazards. Exercising more and eating wisely will strengthen your bones and muscles; redesigning living spaces will protect against accidents that could interfere with your active lifestyle.
6. The best drugs are those that are absolutely necessary and that do not create other problems besides those they are designed to remedy. Make sure your doctor knows what you are taking and that YOU know why and how to use the medication. In this way, you can protect your energy level and stay alert, the better to enjoy yourself.
7. If you keep your medical records up-to-date, you can "seize the day" each time you encounter a doctor or other provider by insuring that he/she knows your history and, more important, your high expectations for an active, wellness lifestyle. In that spirit, the provider will appreciate that you are serious about staying well and avoid the common mistake of over-medicalizing you just because you are an older person.
8. Ask about warning signs, but also ask about options for making positive advances in your health status. Be sure the doctor is aware of how well you are so the focus is not entirely on looking for bad news. The good news about your strengths and assets (good health habits) should be taken into account at all checkups.
9. Prevention initiatives are often free and are always cheap compared with treatments. Take advantage of all opportunities to get the good news about how well you're doing, as well as to learn of any issues to watch more closely.
10. Demonstrate that you are not shy, senile or backward. Be a human dynamo in the doctor's office, asking whatever questions come to mind and offering a bit of advice to the doctor as to how he or she might benefit from some wellness initiative you have found particularly appealing! There is no law that says you can't give the doctor a bit of free advice just because he/she is getting paid to give advice (and/or treatment) to you.

That's it--a positive spin. A cheerful outlook that looks on the bright side and accomplishes the same objectives as telling some old guy or gal that he/she is doing ten things wrong!

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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