Preventive care can help identify health concerns early, reduce the risk of illness, and support independence. If you are managing one or more chronic conditions, regular monitoring and clear communication among your healthcare professionals can help you stay informed and involved in your care.

There is no single schedule that is right for everyone. Recommended screenings, vaccinations, and visits depend on age, medical history, family history, medications, lifestyle, and previous test results. Use this page to prepare for conversations with your physician, pharmacist, dentist, eye-care professional, and other qualified providers.

Checkups and Health Screenings

Regular primary-care visits provide an opportunity to review your health, medications, preventive-care needs, and any changes you have noticed.

Depending on your circumstances, a healthcare professional may discuss:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk
• Diabetes
• Colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate, or lung cancer screening
• Bone health and osteoporosis
• Vision, hearing, and dental health
• Depression, anxiety, memory, and sleep
• Fall risk, balance, and mobility
• Tobacco and alcohol use
• Nutrition and weight changes
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
• Hepatitis, HIV, and other infection screening
• Vaccination status

Some screenings become less useful—or may carry greater risk—at certain ages or for people with particular health conditions. Ask your healthcare professional to explain the possible benefits, limitations, and risks before deciding.

Medicare provides coverage for many preventive and screening services, including certain exams, vaccines, laboratory tests, screenings, counseling, and health-monitoring programs. Coverage rules and possible costs vary, so confirm coverage before receiving a service.

Prepare for a Wellness Visit

Consider asking:

• Which screenings are appropriate for me now?
• Are any tests no longer recommended for me?
• Am I due for any vaccinations?
• Should my medications or supplements be reviewed?
• Have my blood pressure, weight, balance, memory, mood, or sleep changed?
• What symptoms should prompt me to call?
• What can I do to reduce my risk of falls or hospitalization?
• Are there preventive services covered by my insurance that I have not used?

A Medicare yearly wellness visit focuses on prevention and creating or updating a personalized prevention plan. It may not include everything normally associated with a complete physical examination. Ask the provider what the visit includes and whether additional services could result in a charge.

Vaccinations

Vaccines can reduce the risk of serious illness. The vaccines recommended for an individual depend on age, health conditions, vaccination history, travel, and other factors.

Adults may need to discuss vaccines for:

• Influenza
• COVID-19
• Shingles
• Pneumococcal disease
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
• Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV
• Hepatitis and other diseases based on individual risk

Recommendations can change. Review the current CDC adult vaccination guidance, and ask a physician or pharmacist which vaccines are appropriate for you.

Keep a written or electronic vaccination record. Before receiving a vaccine, tell the provider about allergies, previous reactions, current illness, medications, and conditions affecting the immune system.

Medication Safety

Prescription medications, over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbal supplements can interact with one another. Aging can also change how the body processes certain medications.

To use medications more safely:

• Maintain one current list of every medication and supplement you take.
• Include the name, strength, dose, purpose, and prescribing professional.
• Use one pharmacy when practical so interactions can be reviewed.
• Take medications only as directed.
• Do not stop or change a prescription without professional guidance.
• Ask before combining medicine with alcohol, supplements, or over-the-counter products.
• Use adequate lighting when reading labels or organizing pills.
• Do not share medications.
• Store medications securely and follow storage instructions.
• Dispose of unused medications through an authorized collection program.
• Ask for a medication review after a hospitalization or major change in health.

Contact a physician or pharmacist if a medication appears to cause dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, weakness, changes in appetite, or balance problems. These effects can increase fall risk.

Questions for Your Pharmacist

• What is this medication for?
• How and when should I take it?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Which side effects require immediate help?
• Could it interact with another medication, food, alcohol, or supplement?
• Could it affect driving, balance, sleep, or memory?
• Is a less expensive generic or alternative available?
• Is this medication still necessary?

Never provide personal or payment information to an unsolicited caller claiming to offer “free” medication or medical equipment. Verify the request independently with your physician, pharmacy, or insurance plan.

Hearing Health

Hearing changes can affect communication, safety, social connection, and participation in medical care.

Seek an evaluation if you:

• Frequently ask people to repeat themselves
• Have difficulty following conversation
• Turn the television or telephone volume unusually high
• Avoid activities because hearing is difficult
• Experience ringing, pain, drainage, or sudden hearing loss
• Have trouble hearing alarms, traffic, or telephone calls

Sudden hearing loss requires prompt medical attention. Hearing aids and assistive devices vary considerably, so obtain an appropriate evaluation and understand trial periods, warranties, maintenance, and return policies before purchasing.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders offers information about hearing and hearing loss.

Vision Health

Regular eye care can help identify problems that may affect reading, driving, medication management, mobility, and fall risk.

Contact an eye-care professional about:

• Blurred or changing vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Glare or sensitivity to light
• Changes in depth perception
• Flashes, new floaters, or a curtain-like shadow
• Eye pain, redness, or sudden vision loss

Sudden vision loss or other abrupt visual changes may require emergency treatment.

Ask how frequently you should receive a comprehensive eye examination based on your age, health, family history, and risk for conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic eye disease.

Visit the National Eye Institute for authoritative eye-health information.

Dental and Oral Health

Oral health affects eating, speaking, comfort, and general health. Continue regular dental care even if you have dentures or only some natural teeth.

Speak with a dentist about:

• Tooth or mouth pain
• Bleeding gums
• Loose teeth
• Dry mouth
• Dentures that no longer fit properly
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Mouth sores that do not heal
• Changes in taste
• Problems cleaning your teeth or dentures

Dry mouth may be related to medications or health conditions and can increase the risk of tooth decay. Do not stop a medication on your own; ask a physician, pharmacist, or dentist about safer ways to manage the problem.

Original Medicare generally does not cover most routine dental services. Coverage may be available through another plan, so check the terms of your insurance.

Managing Chronic Conditions

Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, lung disease, kidney disease, and high blood pressure often require care from more than one professional.

Helpful practices include:

• Learn the name and purpose of each diagnosis and treatment.
• Know which provider is coordinating your overall care.
• Follow the agreed-upon monitoring plan.
• Record relevant measurements, symptoms, and changes.
• Attend follow-up visits and laboratory appointments.
• Ask how diet, activity, sleep, and medications affect the condition.
• Know whom to call when symptoms change.
• Ask for instructions in writing.
• Tell each provider about care received from other professionals.
• Review the plan after a hospitalization, emergency visit, or medication change.

Ask your healthcare professional to explain your “warning zone”: which symptoms can wait for a routine appointment, which require a same-day call, and which require emergency care.

Do not rely on another person’s treatment plan, even if that person has the same diagnosis.

Preparing for a Medical Appointment

Before the visit:

• Write down your top questions and concerns.
• Note when symptoms began and what makes them better or worse.
• Bring an updated medication and supplement list.
• Bring insurance cards, identification, and relevant records.
• Record recent hospital, emergency, specialist, or pharmacy changes.
• Bring hearing aids, eyeglasses, or mobility devices you normally use.
• Consider bringing a trusted family member or friend.
• Ask in advance if you need language assistance or another accommodation.

During the visit:

• Begin with your most important concern.
• Be honest about symptoms, medication use, alcohol, falls, memory, mood, and ability to manage at home.
• Ask for unfamiliar terms to be explained.
• Take notes.
• Confirm what you should do next and when to follow up.
• Ask how you will receive test results.

Before leaving, make sure you understand:

• Any new diagnosis
• Medication changes
• Tests or referrals
• Symptoms to watch for
• Follow-up instructions
• Who to contact with questions

Organizing Health Information

Keep essential information together in a secure location that can be accessed during an emergency.

Consider maintaining:

• Current medication and allergy list
• Medical conditions and surgical history
• Names and contact information for healthcare professionals
• Pharmacy information
• Insurance and Medicare information
• Emergency contacts
• Vaccination record
• Recent test results and discharge instructions
• Medical-device information
• Advance directives and healthcare power-of-attorney documents
• A brief record of hospitalizations and major treatments

Carry a shorter emergency card listing essential conditions, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts. Review the information after every major medical event and at least periodically even when nothing has changed.

Protect detailed medical records as you would financial information. Share them only with trusted people and verified healthcare organizations.

Medicare Counseling Through SHIIP

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program, or SHIIP, provides free, unbiased counseling for people who need help understanding:

• Original Medicare
• Medicare supplement policies
• Medicare Advantage plans
• Medicare prescription-drug plans
• Long-term-care insurance
• Coverage comparisons
• Medicare forms and paperwork

Moore County’s Department of Aging has a SHIIP coordinator and trained local volunteers who provide information and one-on-one assistance.

For local assistance, call the Moore County Department of Aging at 910-947-4483.

The statewide North Carolina SHIIP hotline is 855-408-1212.

SHIIP counselors do not sell insurance. Be cautious of unsolicited callers claiming to represent Medicare or offering to enroll you immediately. Medicare will not unexpectedly call to demand payment or ask for your Medicare number.

This page provides general educational information. Screening, vaccination, medication, and treatment decisions should be made with qualified healthcare professionals who understand your individual health history. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.