Fall Prevention and Food Insecurity with Dr. Nareesha Khan of Dedicated Senior Medical Center

On this episode of Cafecito with Rosie we are talking about the topic of falling among the elderly with Dr. Nareesha Khan, an internal medicine specialist in Clearwater. She currently practices at Dedicated Senior Medical Center Clearwater LLC. Dr. Khan is board-certified in Internal Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University oOf South Florida College of Medicine and completed her residency at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Dr. Khan was born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrated to Tampa at the age 4 and truly never left. She is living the American Dream. As long as she can remember she has worked with the underserved community.

At Dedicated Senior Medical Center, Dr. Khan shares that during this pandemic she has more and more patients with broken bones. If we don’t use it, we lose it. Not moving has its consequences. 

Fall prevention is key. There are things to take note of to know when she and/or a caregiver should consider discussing fall prevention with a patient. How much effort is a patient using to get out of a chair? Is the patient experiencing back pain? In the home, check the carpet for any folds, which can cause the patient to trip, make sure all pathways are well light and clear, keep areas around the tub and sink dry, and keep cords tucked away.  In the bathroom install grab bars and this makes it very easy to get in and out of the tub/shower. 

Rosie mentions that often elderly people fall and once on the ground have no way of reaching a family member or friend. She asks what she can do as a neighbor of an elderly person to keep an eye on them. Dr. Khan mentions that if your neighbor has a routine that you are aware of and you don’t see them missing from that routine, give them a ring or knock on the door. If you have a family member’s phone number, give them a call. Due to Dedicated Senior Medical Centers hands on approach with patients, she often encourages her patients to give the Center’s phone number to neighbors. The Center treats patients as family and will aid in facilitating a check in.

Continue the conversation around fall prevention, Dr. Khan mentions yoga and Tai Chi for seniors are helpful and low impact exercises that aid in improving balance. She has seen marked improvements in patients who participate in these types of exercises. An advantage of the Medicare Advantage plans is access to Silver Sneakers. This online portal grants patients access to on demand yoga and Tai Chi along with many other virtual programs. 

To contact Dr. Khan or the Dedicated Senior Medical Center their phone number is 813-822-4322 or visit them online at /www.dedicated.care/  The Center has several locations in the Tampa Bay Area and a multitude of services and specialties are provided in each Center. This model allows the primary doctor to be hands-on addressing a variety of issues for patients under one roof. The coordination of care is a priority and something the Center does well.

In closing, Rosie shares the importance of giving back to the community. When you become a trusted community member people will seek you out and do business with you. Stay pure. Stay positive. Stay inspired.

 

 

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Dr. Nareesha Khan

Dedicated Senior Medical Center  │ Vitals