Learning how to choose a doctor, how to prevent failing, and dealing with prescription drugs were some of the subjects addressed during the Senior Summit, hosted by Norwood Hospital, in partnership with the Norwood Council on Aging and Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey at the Norwood Senior Center Friday morning.
"The biggest problem we see is the prescription drug problem," said Morrissey. "You have to get out and talk to people."
His office is reaching out to communities to educate people, and to try to stop the rising incidents of drug abuse.
"We need your help," Morrissey told the audience. "We need to have people working together on this."
Morrissey said to make sure you aren't leaving unused medicine around the house. He encouraged people to drop the drugs off at the kiosks at local police stations, including the one in Norwood.
"You're not going to win it on the street unless you educate people," said Morrissey.
Dr. John Breda, who specializes in internal medicine, spoke on the subject of finding a primary care physician.
"My job is to get to know the patient," he said. "I need to look at it like a student. You need to see where they are and where they need to go. The doctor needs to have a relationship and trust with the patient."
He said he would miss his lunch time if he felt he needed to spend more time with a patient. "My job is to get you to where you need to be," Breda said.
Breda suggested finding a physician who is board certified and part of a practice.
"The health care system makes that really hard," he said of a solo practice.
Norwood High School graduate Barbara Brierley, an outpatient physical therapy supervisor, spoke on the importance of exercise and working on your balance.
She suggests wearing sneakers as one way to avoid falling. Brierley said people older than 80 have a 50 percent chance of falling and suffering an injury.
"The best thing you can do is keep moving," she said. "(Wearing sneakers) gives you better footing. The more stable you are, the less likely you are to fall."
Linda Davenport, a dietitian at Norwood Hospital, talked about making sure you follow the food pyramid, increasing the amount of fish and seafood you eat, and having colors on your plate.
"Make your plate more colorful," she said. "More colors means more nutrition."
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