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Common Elderly Health Issues

There are certain diseases common in aged people. Old age makes people vulnerable to these diseases and each comes with its own set of issues. Caregiving for elderly people must deal with these common elderly health issues carefully as aging makes them frail, have to be administered treatment carefully because of low endurance levels and delicately handled during the recovery phase.

What are the most common health problems in Elderly?

Given below are some of the most common elderly health issues and how caregivers must react to each of these.

• Chronic health conditions: Seniors account for 12 percent of the world’s overall population. About 92 percent of these suffer from at least one chronic disease. 77 of these have at least two. Some of the most commonly observed chronic diseases in elderly people include heart diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes. Physician  for such patients must arrange for a regular check-ups, ensure that such patients eat healthy and most importantly, get exercise in some form that keeps them active. 

• Cognitive health: Cognitive health refers to a person’s ability to think, learn and remember. The most commonly diagnosed cognitive health issue amongst elders is dementia, where they tend to forget recent events fast and have to be constantly reminded of them. Dementia’s most common form is Alzheimer’s and about 5 million people over the age of 65 in the United States itself suffer from this disease. Reasons behind dementia can vary from substance abuse to diabetes and hypertension to depression and HIV and smoking as well. There is medical cure for dementia. Those caring for patients suffering from cognitive health diseases can again get in a physician who will prescribe a treatment plan and relevant medication. 

• Mental health: Depression is the most commonly identified mental health disease amongst elderly people. The appalling fact here is, depression mostly goes either under treated or worse, unidentified. Individuals offering caregiver services in Houston to such patients must know that depression is the most common of all elderly health issues and must be treated promptly, by promoting healthy living for the patient, improving living conditions and trying to get maximum support for the patient in the form of strong social support form family, friends and other support groups.

 

• Physical Injury: Another common among elderly health issues, physical injury of any form can more often than not be spotted in them. Aged people tend to fall because of shrinking bones and muscle that causes loss of flexibility and strength. This results in bruises and fractures. Frailty in aging is generally caused by osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Aging loved ones prone to falls must be educated, must be made to do more physical activity and certain modifications made at home also help. 

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases: HIV/AIDS is the most common of all sexually transmitted diseases among elderly people. It is hard to judge a person’s sexual needs and most seniors are unlikely to use condoms while. With a weakened immune system to make matters worse, elderly people are most susceptible to contract HIV which makes it very hard to treat and prevent damage to their immune system. There is not much that caregiving service providers can do in such cases than perhaps taking the patient to the doctor and have him/her examined and ensure he/she gets adequate rest. 

• Malnutrition: Again among the commonly spotted elderly health issues, malnutrition often goes under diagnosed in them and later on leads to other elderly health issues such as weak immune system and muscle weakness. Malnutrition stems from depression, alcoholism, dietary restrictions, less social activity and limited income. Caregivers for seniors in Houston must make small changes to the patient’s diet such as an increase in fruits and vegetables and less of saturated fat and salt. 

• Sensory Impairments: These can be vision and hearing impairments, very common among elder Americans above the age of 70. The good thing for both the patient as well as the caregiver is that these can be treated, by making the patient wear a pair of glasses in case of weak vision and making him/her wear hearing aids in the case of lesser hearing abilities. The advent of new technologies are helping assess hearing loss better and identify technologically stronger hearing aids. 

• Oral Hygiene: As people tend to aging, they tend to start ignoring their oral health. This leads to bad breath, decaying teeth and cavities. Also, 25 percent of aged people above 65 are found to not have their natural teeth. This makes maintaining a healthy diet difficult and also results in low self-esteem besides several other health conditions. Other oral health issues most commonly identified amongst elders include dry mouth, gum disease and mouth cancer. Caregiving service providers must make sure to arrange for dental surgeons who perform regular dental check-ups on such patients.

• Substance Abuse: This is again very common amongst elders as through the course of their lives, they are more likely to indulge in alcohol and drug-related activities. It so happens that substance abuse goes undetected amongst elders even during medical check-ups. Another reason that results in substance abuse is when a patient starts consuming another patient’s medication due to his inability to pay for his medical bills. Caregivers must make it a point to remind the doctor performing the check-up to check for a possible substance abuse related ailment that might be there in the patient. 

• Bladder Control and Constipation: Ageing people are also likely to suffer from constipation and incontinence, which more often than not impacts the quality in their life. Incontinence and constipation can also be a side effect of previous issues mentioned, such as bad eating habits and chronic health conditions. Caregiving service providers are advised to ensure that such patients maintain a healthy weight by eating a healthy diet and exercise as regularly as they can. Also, elders too are advised to not feel embarrassed while discussing such issues with those delivering caregiver services for seniors in Houston and have word passed onto the physician as well.

A joint effort from both ends can help make sure that these common elderly health issues get addressed with elderly people and that the right medical treatment can be administered to them.