Whether you’re reading this for yourself or someone your care about, this page can help.
General health and wellbeing
As you get older, you may notice changes in your body and your health. Some of these are a normal part of ageing. You might find your muscles feel less flexible, your reflexes are slower, or your energy needs change. Your heart and circulation may also work differently than they used to.
It’s not always easy to tell what’s a normal change and what needs attention. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of any concerns and see your doctor regularly for check-ups. You don’t have to wait until something feels serious.
Preparing for your doctor’s visit
You might sometimes leave an appointment wishing you’d asked more questions or remembered more of what was said. A little preparation can help you feel more confident and make the most of your time.
The Let’s P.L.A.N. for better care approach is a simple way to guide your visit:
Prepare for better care
- Write down your main concerns or questions
- Make a list of your medicines and supplements
- Take a support person if you’d like, or ask for a translator
Listen and share
- Say when something isn’t clear, or if it would help to see a diagram
- Let your doctor know if you’re having problems with treatment or can’t afford it
- Share anything else that might be affecting your health
Ask questions
- What is my health problem?
- What happens next?
- Why is that important?
- Are there other options?
- What can I do to support my health?
Note what comes next
Write down key points, or ask your doctor to write them for you
Here are some other topics that may interest you.
You may be offered a phone or video appointment with your GP. These options can be used to supplement in-person visits and is used to increase access to services for people living rurally or remotely.
At any time, if you have concerns, you can request an in-person visit with your GP as there are recognised limitations with phone/video consultations. These limits include the lack of in-person interaction and the capacity to carry out physical examinations.
There’s also National Telehealth Service available to offer support and information for general queries (Healthline) to specific topics.
New Zealand has a public health system, but having health insurance may allow you to receive private healthcare if you are diagnosed with a non-acute medical condition.
Health insurance can reduce the cost of private treatment and could give you faster access to treatment by avoiding public health waiting lists. Consumer and Sorted have further information on health insurance.
You may find you’re taking more medication than you used to. That’s common as your health needs change. It’s important to understand what each medicine is for, and why you’re taking it.
You have the right to ask questions until things feel clear. That includes the benefits, risks, and possible side effects. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can explain anything that isn’t clear.
What to do:
- Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. This includes the dose and timing. Check whether to take them with food, whether alcohol is safe, and whether tablets can be chewed
- Make sure all your doctors know about every medicine you take, including any specialists you see
- Tell your doctor about any over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or supplements. These can affect your prescriptions
- Try to use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions. They can help you keep track of your medicines and answer questions
- Keep medicines out of reach of children and pets
- Return unused or expired medicines to your pharmacist for safe disposal
Keeping track of several medicines can feel overwhelming at times. You might worry about missing doses or mixing things up.
It can help to:
- Keep a written list of all your medicines and doses. In Aotearoa New Zealand, a medicine list is also called a Yellow Card.
- Use a pillbox, blister pack, or sachet to organise your doses
- Set reminders or alarms if you sometimes forget a dose
If reading labels is difficult, ask your pharmacist about larger print or written information you can keep.
If swallowing tablets is hard, ask about other options like liquids, patches, or crushable tablets.
It’s a good idea to have your medicines reviewed every year. This helps make sure you’re only taking what you need. It also helps identify if you’re taking medicine to manage side effects from other medicines.
If this feels like a lot to manage, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Your doctor or pharmacist can work through it with you.
You can find more information and a downloadable Te Kete Haerenga medicines list on the He Puna Waiora Healthify website.
When medications start to cause problems
You might be taking more medications as your health needs change. Sometimes, this can increase the risk of problems with prescription drugs.
It’s important to review your medications regularly with your doctor. This helps make sure everything you’re taking is still right for you.
If you are using drugs, whether prescription or illegal, it can be hard to tell when use is becoming a problem. You may want to seek help if you are:
- Using more than you intend to, or for longer than planned
- Wanting to cut down but finding you can’t
- Continuing to use despite it causing problems meeting your commitments or obligations
- Using substances in dangerous situations, such as when driving
If this sounds like your situation, support is available and it’s okay to reach out.
Medicinal cannabis
You may have heard about medicinal cannabis as a treatment option. In New Zealand, doctors can prescribe it for chronic health conditions or symptoms that haven’t improved with other treatments.
Medicinal cannabis is regulated like other medicines. It must meet strict quality standards, and products and providers must be licensed by the Ministry of Health.
It differs from regular cannabis because it contains little or no psychoactive substances. Prescriptions are usually limited to small amounts.
PHARMAC funding is considered on a case-by-case basis and isn’t available for everyone. This means you may need to pay for the product yourself.
