Old age is an unavoidable, undesirable, and the toughest phase of life. Wrinkled skin, forgetting where you put the keys, white hairs, and a collection of health problems are unavoidable signs of aging.
With seniors accounting to approximately 12 percent of the world’s population, it is important to take care of our elders and give them a comfortable life.
So, if your parents are having difficulties traveling to see the medical care provider, you can opt for in home senior care offered by Utah Doctors at Home.
Here are the top 5 health issues often faced by people above the age of 60
Chronic Health Conditions
Did you know, approximately 92% of seniors suffer from one or the other kind of chronic illness and approximately 77 percent suffer from two chronic illnesses? The most common chronic health conditions which cause about two-thirds of deaths each year include heart attack, diabetes, and stroke.
Therefore, it is important for seniors to meet a physician for annual regular checkup to manage and prevent diseases. If your parents are homebound, you can opt for doctor at home services to get them checked.
Physical Injuries
Every 15 seconds, a person above the age of 65 is admitted to the emergency room for a fall. Physical injuries are deemed as the number one cause of injuries in the elderly as every 29 minutes, a senior dies from a fall. As the body age, it loses its strength, flexibility, and the bones start to shrink. This makes seniors more susceptible to losing their balance and fracturing their bones.
Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis contribute to frailty. However, in many cases, falls can be prevented by educating the seniors, increased physical activities, and by making certain modifications at home.
Cognitive Health
Cognitive health is all about a person’s ability to think, learn, and remember. Elderly often face dementia which is the loss of cognitive functions. About 47.5 million elderly suffer from dementia and the number will increase in the coming few years.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia which affects approximately 5 million American elders. According to the National Institute of Aging, health conditions that increase the chances of developing dementia include smoking, HIV, substance abuse, hypertension, and diabetes.
Malnutrition
Older adults over the age of 65 are often misdiagnosed about malnutrition. If left underdiagnosed, it can lead to other health issues such as muscle weakness and a weakened immune system.
The problem of malnutrition often stems from other health conditions such as depression, dementia, dietary restrictions, limited income, or reduced social contact.
Making some small changes in the diet such as decreasing the consumption of saturated fats and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables can help meet the daily nutritional needs of the elders.
Bladder Control
Constipation and incontinence are common with aging and often negatively impact the quality of life. Apart from age-related changes, a person suffering from chronic health conditions can also experience constipation and incontinence.
Thus, it is important to maintain a healthy weight, indulge in regular physical activities, and eat a healthy diet to avoid these problems.
Visit https://amg-homedoctor.com/ to schedule an appointment with a doctor at home. Even if you are unable to visit your general physician, have the doctor come to your home for in home senior care. Call (385) 247-0050 to know more about admission details.