by agebuzz contributing editor Julie Buyon   Asking for Help   EVERYBODY needs a little help now and then, even a Powerhouse Patient.     Sometimes it can be small things, like making chicken soup, changing the linens, walking the dog or sometimes larger things, like note-taking at a doctor’s appointment,…

Maybe It’s Time To Be A Difficult Patient By Alice Herb   As a health care attorney and patient advocate for over 30 years, I can certainly attest to the importance of patients being informed when dealing with health care providers. We must always remember that we are the most…

by agebuzz Contributing Editor Julie Buyon   Like much of everything in life, a little preparation goes a long way when going to the doctor. You wouldn’t go to a job interview, take a test, or host a party without preparation, and the same certainly holds true for getting the most out of…

Doing It All Myself by Alice Herb   I scramble out of bed. No time to linger. Too much to do. I’m retired, right? What a joke. Prepare breakfast. Clear the dishes. Make the bed. Straighten the apartment. Pay the rent, the electricity, the phone and whatever else is a…

by agebuzz Contributing Editor Julie Buyon   Dealing with our current healthcare system can be really challenging, with different specialists, unfamiliar terms, mysterious tests, unexpected costs, and communication roadblocks. When did I last have a bone density test? Who referred me to the dermatologist? Just how long has my knee really been…

My Feminism by Alice Herb   I was reminded the other day that I am old enough to have been a liberated woman before the mass movement came together, one that still has a long way to go. How come I was free of society’s conventions regarding women’s roles?  Good…