Although aging is inevitable, healthy aging is possible! Older adults can avoid a lot of common health issues. Taking care of age-related health issues can help ensure a long and happy life.
What typical health issues do we experience as we get older? What are some ways to control these so that you can live a long life? Understand the issues and remedies related to senior health.
6 Common Health Problems in Seniors
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease accounted for 92,604 deaths of people over age 65 in 2014, according to the CDC. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that one in nine people age 65 and older, which is about 11 percent, have Alzheimer’s disease, but because diagnosis is challenging, it’s difficult to know exactly how many people are living with this chronic condition. Still, experts acknowledge that cognitive impairment has a significant impact on senior health across the spectrum, from issues of safety and self-care to the cost burden of care, either in the home or a residential facility.
Related: What Are The 7 Stages Of Alzheimer’s: Understand Your Old Parents Better – Elder VIP
Heart Disease
The CDC reports that heart disease, which caused 489,722 deaths in 2014, continues to be the leading cause of death for adults over 65. According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics, heart disease is a chronic condition that affects 26% of women and 37% of men who are 65 and older. As people get older, they’re more likely to have risk factors for heart disease and stroke, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Dr. Bernard’s advice for addressing this senior health risk not only helps with heart disease but can improve senior health across the board: “Get some exercise, eat healthily, and sleep soundly. Eating well means eating in a fashion that will allow you to keep a healthy weight with a well-balanced and healthy diet.”
Cancer
According to the CDC, cancer was the second most common cause of death for people over 65 in 2014, accounting for 413,885 fatalities. The CDC also reports that 28 percent of men and 21 percent of women over age 65 are living with cancer. Many cancers can be treated if discovered early through screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies, and skin checks. Even though you can’t always prevent cancer, you can improve your quality of life as a senior living with cancer, including during treatment, by collaborating with your medical team and following their healthy senior living recommendations.
Diabetes
An important risk factor for senior health is diabetes, which affects 25% of people aged 65 and older, according to the CDC. Diabetes contributed to 54,161 deaths in adults over 65 in 2014, per the CDC. Diabetes can be identified and addressed early with simple blood tests for blood sugar levels. The sooner you recognize that you have diabetes or are at risk for developing it, the sooner you can start to make changes to manage the condition and enhance your long-term outlook for senior health.
Falls
With age comes an increased risk of falls necessitating ER visits. The CDC estimates that 2.5 million adults 65 and older receive emergency room care each year as a result of falls. That’s more than any other age group. And, one-third of people who go to the emergency room for a fall may find themselves there again within one year, according to a study published in August 2015 in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Also be aware that most falls occur in the home, where tripping hazards include area rugs and slippery bathroom floors, according to a study published in January 2013 in the Journal of Injury and Violence Research.
Arthritis
“Arthritis is probably the number one condition that people 65 or older contend with,” says geriatrician Marie Bernard, MD, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Maryland. The CDC estimates that it affects 49.7 percent of all adults over 65 and can lead to pain and lower quality of life for some seniors. While arthritis can make it difficult to stay active, it’s crucial to work with your doctor to create a personalized activity plan that, when combined with other treatments, can support senior health.
Read more: What Is The Difference Between Arthritis And Bursitis? – Elder VIP
How Seniors Can Combat Health Problems？
With the impending silver tsunami, it is essential to ensure that our seniors remain in the pink of health and continue their active lifestyles by engaging in regular physical activity. Here are some suggestions on how Occupational Therapists can empower seniors with physical limitations to be actively participating in daily activities happily and with great ease:
Enhancing An Easier Daily Life
There are many ways to encourage seniors with physical limitations to engage in daily activities.
Using built-up handles or universal cuffs on eating utensils can help those with grip difficulty feed themselves. Items such as the long-handled sponge, buttoner and shoehorn can be used in showering and dressing. Seniors who have an upper limb or trunk stiffness can safely perform daily tasks while seated with the help of this equipment.
Laundry management is made simpler with the help of front-loading washers and mobile, low-height racks. Repositioning of microwaves and induction cookers to a lower height also promotes simple meal preparation for seniors in wheelchairs.
Update a Safe Home
Falls may threaten the health and independence of seniors. Making their home safe can therefore help them maintain their independence.
We can clear the clutter from the house and reorganize furniture to create wider walkways to prevent accidental falls. Loose wires and cables should be tied or taped to the wall or floor. To increase the safety of elderly people with physical limitations, think about putting non-slip mats in wet areas around the house, installing grab bars in toilets, and using shower chairs or bedside commodes.
We can greatly lower the risk of falls at home by using suitable adaptive equipment in the right way.
Healthy Diet
Your digestive and cardiovascular systems can both benefit from consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and low-sodium foods. Steer clear of fried and fatty foods, which can cause heart issues.
Improve Vision
Larger fonts must be used in order to improve reading for our elderly who have reduced vision.
This includes using phones or light switches with larger numbers or buttons, as well as re-labeling and enlarging the expiration dates on food items and medication. They can read newspapers and other labels with the aid of magnifiers.
Good lighting throughout the house, such as night lights along the stairways, bedrooms and toilets allows our loved ones to move safely and independently through their living spaces.
Conclusion
Finally, physical limitations as we age may not be averted. However, active participation in daily life successfully can boost experience and confidence in later years. The above-mentioned suggestions are just a few of the many others that can encourage independence in older adults with physical limitations. Occupational therapists have a special set of professional skills that enable them to thoroughly evaluate each person’s performance and improve it through pertinent interventions that support successful and positive aging. Addressing age-related health issues before they start can help keep you or a loved one out of the hospital. It’s never too late to start a new health routine.
