Episode Trailer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately five million American adults aged 65 and over suffer from dementia - and that number is expected to rise to nearly 14 million by 2060.
But with general and gender-based misconceptions surrounding dementia, how can women navigate the healthcare industry and receive the quality of care they deserve?
We spoke with Dr. Julie Thai, a geriatric medicine physician based in the San Francisco Bay Area, to clear up misconceptions surrounding dementia, including the history of gender bias in medicine and how it impacts the accuracy of diagnosis and treatments for dementia patients.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Common challenges aging women face accessing dementia and end of life healthcare
- How healthcare providers can recognize unconscious biases and stereotypes when working with aging patients
- Options for managing symptoms of dementia and end of life care
- Support systems for caregivers to aging adults
- Self-advocacy tips for aging adults with dementia navigating the healthcare industry
More about Dr. Julie Thai:
Dr. Thai completed her medical school and residency training in family medicine at Michigan State University and her fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
She also holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University and is currently a diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Dr. Thai has worked extensively in clinical research and has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles in the areas of rapidly progressive dementia, end-of-life care preferences, public health policy, and more.
She is passionate about promoting health education, patient advocacy, and diagnostic excellence in the aging adult population.
Resources for Episode 008:
Important terms :
Geriatric medicine refers to doctors focusing on aging patient care, whereas the common term gerontology is the medical science behind the aging process.
References Mentioned
- Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/dementia/index.html
- Family Caregiver Alliance: https://www.caregiver.org/
- New York Times, Why Heart Disease in Women Is So Often Missed or Dismissed: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/09/well/live/heart-disease-symptoms-women.html
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The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and entertain. All views expressed by the persons featured on the Your Health Unlocked podcast are their own and do not reflect the opinions of the NWHN or its affiliates. Information provided in this podcast does not constitute medical advice. Consult your own provider for any medical issues that you may be experiencing.