It’s widely considered the fastest-growing sport in America. A cross between tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, pickleball is taking the senior communities by storm. Invented in 1965 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball is providing older adults with hours of competitive fun and exercise. But, unfortunately, along with being the fastest-growing sport, it’s also responsible for the fastest-growing number of injuries among older people. Pickleball is responsible for roughly 19,000 injuries every year. Common injuries include muscle strains, ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis, wrist fractu ..read more

We’ve added to our list of compassionate providers at VIPcare On Top of the World located in Ocala. Meet Dr. Lynnette Santana, the newest member of our team! Dr. Santana is a Family Medicine physician with over 20 years of experience. She’s excited to be part of the VIPcare family and can’t wait to join her patients on their healthcare journey. Who is Dr. Lynnette Santana Dr. Santana was born and raised in upstate New York and spent most of her life in Syracuse. She grew up in a house of medical professionals, her father a physician and her mother a registered nurse. She remembers going to the ..read more

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition, affecting nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives. The terms panic attack and anxiety attack are often used interchangeably. And although they do have some similar symptoms and characteristics, they are two different disorders. So if you’re scratching your head, you’re not alone. Read on to learn the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack. What is a Panic Attack? Panic attacks are a symptom of panic disorder. They are identified as a sudden fear, discomfort, or a sense of losing control. They usual ..read more

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic health conditions affecting older adults. Commonly referred to as osteoarthritis, arthritis is acute inflammation in one or more joints caused by a fault in the immune system that results in the body attacking itself. This leads to chronic inflammation that can be not only painful but also debilitating. For the more than 50 million Americans suffering from arthritis (more than half of seniors), a big part of their day includes finding ways to manage arthritis pain. Arthritis symptoms can range from mild to very severe. And can include joint pain, swe ..read more

When a senior develops a need for medical care, it can be difficult to decide where to seek treatment. These spur-of-the-moment health conditions or concerns can take you by surprise and leave you feeling scared, anxious, and flustered. So, how do you know if you should walk into urgent care, rush to the ER, or contact your primary care provider? Emergency Room If you or a loved one is suffering from a life-threatening condition, you should never hesitate to call 911. Life-or-death situations always require emergency medical care. For example, these situations include heart attacks, strokes, o ..read more

Covid-19 opened our eyes to a lot of things. But one of the biggest things it opened our eyes to is our overall healthcare system and the declining health of our senior population. Seniors deserve more. They deserve compassionate care that is centered around them. Primary care is vital to seniors having a healthy life. However, primary care is probably the healthcare system that is strained the most. Primary care physicians are experiencing burnout, trying to keep up with demand. Primary care helps to prevent disease, manage chronic conditions, improve health, and lower mortality rates. But to ..read more

It’s that time of year when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be sending the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Survey to a random number of eligible Medicare Advantage beneficiaries to measure their well-being as well as their perception of their healthcare physician, services, and plan. If you’re randomly selected, it’s important that you complete the survey. Here’s a brief overview of what precisely the survey is and what it will ask, so you’re familiar if you get selected. What is CAHPS? The CAHPS survey seeks to better understan ..read more

Mark your calendars. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up on April 22nd. It’s a day that aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs. Safely and properly disposing of expired or unwanted medication is important and aids in preventing medication abuse. However, it’s important to note that there are right and wrong ways to safely dispose of medicine. Don’t Flush Drugs You should never flush expired or unwanted medications and over-the-counter drugs down the toilet or drain unless the label or accompanying patient information speci ..read more

While no one wants to think about end-of-life care and the difficult decisions that may possibly have to be made one day, it’s a very real subject. And one you shouldn’t avoid. It’s the conversation that is never too early to have. Whether you’re going in for a routine procedure or hospitalized because you’re severely sick, you should have an advance directive in place to ensure your voice is heard and your wishes are honored if something happens. What is An Advance Directive? An advance directive is a legal document that provides direction to what your wishes are regarding medical care in the ..read more

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. A month to raise awareness to the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s. It’s a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system in the brain and causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as tremors, shaking, and difficulty with balance. Symptoms typically begin gradually and worsen over time. It’s estimated that 500,000 Americans have Parkinson’s, but given that many individuals go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, the actual number is much higher. Some experts, in fact, estimate that as many as one million Americ ..read more