As we get further into fall, it’s important that patients — especially older adults — are equipped with the right tools and support systems, no matter where they choose to spend their time. For residents of Arizona, that can mean those who reside year-round and see their primary care doctors regularly, or those who come to Arizona to escape the cold weather in other states and perhaps haven’t seen their primary care providers in person for months. Let’s take a deeper look at this unique patient population of snowbirds to better understand their care needs.
What is a “snowbird” and how does caring for these older Arizona part-time residents differ from year-round residents?A “snowbird” is a person who migrates from one location to another, usually from north to south, in the winter to escape the cold. These snowbirds are most often retired seniors, so they spend their time in states like Arizona during the winter months, starting as early as October and staying as late as May, meaning their time and medical care are split between two locations throughout the year.
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Caring for snowbirds doesn’t need to be any different than caring for year-round residents — as a primary care provider, it’s all about providing preventive care, teaching healthy lifestyle choices and identifying and treating common medical conditions. For Oak Street Health, that means that regardless of whether they’re a part-time or full-time Arizona resident, it’s our responsibility to ensure each patient is receiving the quality of care they need and deserve. This means being proactive about screenings and vaccines and helping them manage any chronic illnesses. The logistics look a little different for snowbirds, but despite their travels, they continue to have 24/7 support and the level of quality care remains the same.
How do you provide continuity of care for these patients? Do they require any extra attention or have specific needs?Snowbirds are a unique subset of patients, and healthcare providers in Arizona can adjust their approach to care to account for these patients splitting time across geographies. We see hundreds of snowbirds across our Arizona centers and keep in touch throughout the year to maintain relationships and make sure they’re staying on top of their care plans. Telehealth presents an innovative way to maintain continuity of care while patients are splitting time between two temporary homes.
Similar to older adults who stay in one place year-round, these snowbirds should also stay up to date on recommended screenings and vaccinations. Their healthcare providers can work with them to ensure they are getting appropriate vaccines and screenings for things like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis when they are in the same city as their provider.
Lastly, first-time snowbirds who are looking for a healthcare provider in their new secondary home should come prepared with specific questions, recent test results and medical history ahead of time. It’s also important for snowbird patients to list out current and past medications and make sure medications are filled before traveling to whatever state they choose to spend the winter in.
What timely health
topics should older
adults be aware of heading into fall?
As aging adults native to Arizona gear up for the fall and snowbirds start to trickle in, there are a few timely health topics that both older adults and their providers should be mindful of:
- Preparing for flu season as it ramps up: The CDC is already beginning to prepare us for three different shots this fall that will protect us from COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Since all three are illnesses affecting the respiratory system, older adults must take preventive measures by getting these shots ahead of time since they are at higher risk of hospitalization if they catch any of these diseases or viruses; COVID-19-related hospitalizations have already started to climb since early July.
- Supporting older adults in the area with Alzheimer’s: An estimated 81,000 people are living with Alzheimer's in Maricopa County — about 11.1% of people 65 and older. Some of these southern counties have higher percentages of Hispanic/Latino populations, and outside factors such as poor access to healthcare, lack of education and even air pollution leave people, including Latino populations, more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer’s is an unfortunate disease of aging, and as we continue to age as an overall population, we see more of it, so our patients regularly get screened for any memory changes. It is a disease that affects the entire family, and caregivers of those with it.
Alzheimer's often report high levels of stress contributing to their ability to support their loved ones, so caregivers must monitor their own well-being so that they can provide better care. Actions caregivers can take include getting exercise to help reduce stress, attending a support group or seeking respite care, or even bringing in social workers who can look at state and other local resources to make sure that patients and their caregivers get the support they need outside of the care physicians can provide.
- Battling social isolation as an older adult this fall: At least one in four older adults experiences some sort of mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, and since mental health is closely linked to physical health, there is a risk of experiencing complications with both mental and physical health as we age. As we head into the fall and winter months, it can bring a change in mood for some older adults. While not everyone experiences the winter blues, some people are more at risk for seasonal changes to impact their day-to-days. The fall and winter also bring fewer opportunities to socialize with others due to shorter days and cooler weather, which can also impact older adults’ mental health.
Regular exercise is a great way for older adults to manage their stress and mental health as well as practicing healthy habits like getting adequate sleep and eating right. Socializing with support groups and strengthening existing relationships with loved ones can help patients feel engaged and forget their stress. Patients should be encouraged to participate in social activities that boost physical health, but also reduce loneliness by encouraging interaction with each other, staff and others from the community.
With both seasonal and everyday conditions, older adults can lean on their providers for proper care and guidance to stay healthy and happy. As we gear up for snowbirds to migrate to warmer weather this winter, ensuring these patients have the right tools and support systems in place with the help of their primary care providers is essential to maintaining their health, both physical and mental.
As Regional Medical Director at Oak Street Health, Dr. Vinck is focused on improving the health of Arizona’s most vulnerable older adults. Dr. Vinck is responsible for driving high-quality care delivery, patient satisfaction, strategic partnerships, clinical innovation, quality improvement, and growth.
As Regional Medical Director at Oak Street Health, Dr. Vinck is focused on improving the health of Arizona’s most vulnerable older adults. Dr. Vinck is responsible for driving high-quality care delivery, patient satisfaction, strategic partnerships, clinical innovation, quality improvement, and growth.
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