Doctor-Patient Bond Key to Healthy Aging

The relationship between primary care physicians and the people they care for plays a vital role in healthy aging, reports The Villages Daily Sun . "As we age, there is a greater likelihood of developing medical conditions, even if we have been healthy for most of our lives," says The Villages Health's Robert Reilly. The Villages Health Chairman Elliot Sussman adds that all older adults should have a primary care doctor, who "needs to be the quarterback in service to their customers." A Harvard Medical School study found primary care has declined across the country for every decade of age except for Americans in their 80s, which means some Medicare beneficiaries elect to skip primary care. Other studies indicate that persons with access to a regular primary care physician spend less on healthcare overall, and those who cultivate an ongoing relationship with their providers have better health outcomes. According to Reilly, continuous communication helps beneficiaries feel comfortable raising issues that might seem trivial, but in fact suggest bigger health problems. "Having a strong relationship with a primary care physician will help older people navigate a complex medical system and feel assured that they have a true advocate in their care," he concludes.