Senior Health
From LoveToKnow Seniors
Elderly people are more vulnerable to certain diseases and the elderly may have senior health problems as they age. But more and more people are living longer and healthier as they age.
Overview of Aging Concerns
The aging process pertains to changes in physical condition and overall fitness rather than the passage of time. If the human body changes so that a person looks, feels, or functions in a drastically different at an older age, then serious senior health problems have become an issue. General signs of aging are:
- Hair loss
- Nearsighted eye condition
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
Certain diseases, with regular health maintenance and preventative, care can be eliminated. These are disorders such as:
- Cataracts
- Osteoporosis
- High blood pressure
The key to senior health is to begin the health process early in life. By adopting a variety of health habits, one can expect to live a healthier, happier life. The next challenge, therefore, is to become aware and realize that healthy habits will bring a healthier senior life.
It is also crucial that seniors assume a lifestyle that protects them from:
- Physical degeneration
- Illness
- Accidents
Ultimately, vigorous healthy life in the senior years means that one’s overall physical and mental wellness are a constant priority. Growing old and becoming sick are not necessarily automatic conditions.
Health Issues:Ailments and Diseases
The senior population has been steadily increasing over the past twenty years, and senior health has dramatically improved over that same time span despite the increase in cases of:
- Arthritis and related conditions
- Heart disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer (all forms)
- Diabetes
- Obesity
At an earlier age certain diseases strike individuals which have impacted senior health as well. These are:
- AIDS
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
Life Choices and Disease Prevention
Many people realize that it's no secret that a healthy lifestyle will enhance and improve a happy, healthy, and productive life and have a positive impact on senior health. This type of lifestyle includes:
- Proper diet
- Regular exercise
- Appropriate medication
- Weight maintenance
- Timely physical checkups
Seniors should avoid:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Recreational drug abuse
If seniors avoid the substances specified above, they will enjoy the likelihood of a longer, healthier, senior life. Maintaining the proper weight will go a long way in fighting obesity and the ravages of heart disease and cancer. A diet high in fat and cholesterol will increase the chances for:
- Heart disease
- Blood pressure
- Obesity problems
A diet rich in vegetable, fruit, grain, and fat free dishes will enhance a prolonged life. Regular check-ups are an absolute must, and can eliminate the vulnerability to major health disorders such as:
- Glaucoma
- Diabetes
- Bone disease
A lifestyle free of stress and other emotional pressure will lessen the chance for stroke and nerve-related illness.
Senior Health Support
A vast array of senior health organizations are available to assist the senior. They offer a range of services that provide:
- Specialists’ databases and information
- Hospital locations
- Disease and ailment identification.
Hotlines are available in the event of:
- Emergencies
- Memory assistance
- Clinics
- HMO locations and other vital data.
Federal, state, and local agencies provide brochures and other periodicals for seniors to ensure that the right senior health information about:
- Medical insurance
- Retirement eligibility for medical benefits
- Medicaid/medicare information.
Government officials will visit senior care facilities to discuss matters such as:
- The Federal prescription drug plan
- Changes in social security benefits
- Insurance-related questions.
Relevant nonprofit and senior health services support organizations include:
- AARP
- American Heart Association
- Medline
- Aging Parents and Elder Care
- National Institute on Aging
- American Academy of Physicians
- American Medical Association
- American Psychiatric Association
Senior Personal Caregivers
An array of organizations provide senior health delivery caregiving services on a personal basis. For many seniors who are located in remote locations far from hospitals and other institutional medical caregivers, these private caregivers perform many of the same functions as the institutional ones. They often operate on a live-in or daily visiting basis to seniors who live by themselves. These services include:
- Administering medication
- Walking and mobility services
- Flu and other shots
- Transportation to doctors, clinics and hospitals
- Emergency care services.
- Emotional and psychological counseling
Learn More
This page has been accessed 2,604 times. This page was last modified 20:57, 31 January 2008.
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