Better Health While Aging Better Health While Aging

Dr. Kernisan & geriatric care manager Michelle explain options for paying for senior care, including for aging in place, residential facilities, memory care & more.

Dr. K covers the recent rise in COVID, the new variant, and the upcoming booster. Plus FAQs such as whether to get boosted now or wait.

Dr. K covers the latest on COVID in the US now, how to follow COVID levels, updates on COVID boosters, how to know if you still should take precautions, tips on staying safe for the summer, and more.

Dr. K discusses the latest COVID news for 2023, including what’s most important for aging adults and their families to know for the spring. She also covers the problem of doctors inappropriately not prescribing Paxlovid (the best treatment if an older adult does catch COVID), and how to advocate to get it successfully.



In this episode:








The current COVID & flu situation (cases & hospitalizations)



About the new Covid variant XBB.1.5



What the public health emergency ending will mean for you



How to know if you need to worry about COVID



What to know about COVID reinfections



If you’re high risk and need to avoid catching COVID



Update on the bivalent COVID booster



When can you get your next COVID booster?



Update on masks to prevent COVID



COVID symptoms in 2023



The best treatment for COVID (Paxlovid) & an FDA checklist that can help you get it



Summary of what to know for COVID in Spring 2023




Note: For the masks Dr. K recommends, you can get 3M Aura here https://amzn.to/3PJJyRO, the 3M V-flex here https://amzn.to/3OxrsRY, and the Powecom KN95 here https://amzn.to/3W9frXf



These are Amazon affiliate links, so any purchases will help support Better Health While Aging, thank you!



Related Episodes:



131 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (12.8.22 Edition)



Related Resources:




BHWA:

COVID & Aging Adults: 2023 & 2022 Updates



COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do





To track COVID data:

NY Times COVID Tracker



Wastewater:

CDC Wastewater Surveillance



Biobot.io wastewater tracker





Walgreens Test Positivity Tracker



OurWorldInData.org Coronavirus Data Explorer



CDC Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard



CDC Variant Proportion Tracker



CDC COVID cases and deaths by vaccine status





CDC & FDA information referenced in this update:

FDA: PAXLOVID Patient Eligibilit

Dr. K discusses what aging adults & families should know about COVID and flu this winter.



She covers:








The currently increasing rates of COVID & flu



What to know about the new Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1



How well the fall COVID bivalent booster is working so far



How to avoid getting sick and how to gather safely



When to mask and how to do so effectively



Why use a HEPA air purifier at home and how to choose one



How to detect COVID now



How to treat COVID



Her top recommendations for staying safe during winter gatherings




Note: you can get the CO2 monitor Dr. K refers to here: https://amzn.to/3yhDtq8.



For the masks Dr. K is using, you can get 3M Aura here https://amzn.to/3PJJyRO, the 3M V-flex here https://amzn.to/3OxrsRY, and the Powecom KN95 here https://amzn.to/3W9frXf



Dr. K’s HEPA air purifier is here https://amzn.to/3Y96crN



These are Amazon affiliate links, so any purchases will help support Better Health While Aging, thank you!



Related Episodes:



130 – COVID Booster Update for Aging Adults (9.7.22 Edition)



Related Resources:




BHWA:

COVID & Aging Adults: 2022 Updates



COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do





To track COVID data:

NY Times COVID Tracker



Wastewater:

CDC Wastewater Surveillance



Biobot.io wastewater tracker





Walgreens Test Positivity Tracker



OurWorldInData.org Coronavirus Data Explorer



CDC Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard



CDC Variant Proportion Tracker



CDC COVID cases and deaths by vaccine status





CDC Datasets in this update:

Effectiveness of Bivalent mRNA Vaccines in Preventing Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection — Increasing Community Access to Testing Program, United States, September–November 2022

Dr. K discusses what aging adults & families should know about the new fall COVID boosters, the latest Omicron variants, and more. Plus who died of COVID this summer and how to know if you’re at high risk of severe COVID.



She covers:








The current COVID situation & variants in the US



Newer variants overseas that might evade immunity



What’s in the new bivalent fall COVID booster



How the fall booster was developed and tested



Why there has been debate about the fall COVID booster



Data review: who died of COVID this past summer?



The data on the benefit of boosters so far



Dr. K’s predictions regarding benefits of the fall COVID booster



When to get your fall COVID booster



Do you need a booster if you’ve had Omicron?



Summary of Dr. K’s COVID booster recommendations, including which booster, if you have a choice



What to know about Paxlovid and what to do if you catch COVID




Related Episodes:



129 – COVID Update for Aging Adults (7.21.22 Edition)



Related Resources:




BHWA:

COVID & Aging Adults: 2022 Updates



COVID Vaccination for Aging Adults: What to Know & Do





To track COVID data:

NY Times COVID Tracker



Wastewater:

CDC Wastewater Surveillance



Biobot.io wastewater tracker





Walgreens Test Positivity Tracker



OurWorldInData.org Coronavirus Data Explorer



CDC Nursing Home Covid-19 Data Dashboard



CDC Variant Proportion Tracker



CDC COVID cases and deaths by vaccine status





Fall COVID booster resources:

CDC ACIP Meeting Slides from September 1, 2022

For human and mice data on Omicron booster: Moderna slides, Pfizer slides







CDC Datasets in this update: