The aging process changes both the body and the mind. Many senior changes are physiological, as the body degenerates and breaks down.
Along with these physical changes, emotional variations can also occur.
Declining health is a common issue with aging, with many illnesses and diseases plaguing the elderly.
Maintaining good health for as long as possible is possible by remaining active and paying attention to physical symptoms.
Alzheimer’s disease is a prevalent illness among the elderly.
More than 5 million people currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and one out of every three older adults in the United States dies with
Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.
This degenerative brain disease results in the death of brain cells, leading to profound brain shrinkage.
What is Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
- It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly losing the ability to converse and respond to the environment.
- Alzheimer’s disease involves brain parts that control thought, memory, and language.
- It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
Medical management can improve the quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.
There is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Treatment addresses several areas:
- Helping people maintain brain health.
- Managing behavioral symptoms.
- Slowing or delaying symptoms of the disease.
Creating a safe and supportive environment
Adapting the living situation to the needs of a person with Alzheimer’s disease is essential to any treatment plan. For someone with Alzheimer’s, establishing and strengthening routine habits and minimizing memory-demanding tasks can make life much easier.
You can take these steps to support a person’s sense of well-being and continued ability to function:
- Always keep keys, wallets, mobile phones, and other valuables in the same place at home so they don’t become lost.
- Keep medications in a secure location. Use a daily checklist to keep track of dosages.
- Arrange for finances to be on automatic payment and automatic deposit.
- Have the person with Alzheimer’s carry a mobile phone with location capability so that a caregiver can track its location—program significant phone numbers into the phone.
- Install alarm sensors on doors and windows.
- Make sure regular appointments are on the same day at the same time as much as possible.
- Use a calendar or whiteboard in the home to track daily schedules. Build the habit of checking off completed items.
- Remove excess furniture, clutter, and throw rugs.
- Install sturdy handrails on stairways and in bathrooms.
- Ensure that shoes and slippers are comfortable and provide good traction.
- Reduce the number of mirrors. People with Alzheimer’s may find images in mirrors confusing or frightening.
- Ensure the person with Alzheimer’s carries identification or wears a medical alert bracelet.
- Keep photographs and other meaningful objects around the house.
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Balance issues and falls
Balance issues and falls are frequent occurrences for older adults.
Falls can be an indication that an older adult’s health is declining.
Balance issues are frequent in the elderly and are associated with common illnesses such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetes.
Cardiac problems and inner ear issues can also cause problems with balance.
Hip fractures are a typical result of falls, with lengthy hospitalizations and declining health occurring afterward.
Fall Prevention
One of the leading health concerns for people over 60 is falling, often related to balance problems.
Millions of adults fall yearly, and one in five falls leads to serious injury.
Although the imbalance in older persons can be complex, everyone can follow a few simple precautions to aid in fall prevention for an active old age.
Balance in standing and walking is a skill that older adults can learn to maintain and improve, and it depends on good general physical condition.
Therefore, sound nutrition and health habits — including regular exercises, walking, and strength training can go a long way toward fall prevention.
Falls can have severe consequences as we age.
Each year, more than 25 percent of adults 65 or older have a fall, and 3 million are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Falls often occur in the bathroom when sitting or standing on the toilet or shower or at night in a dark bedroom when getting up quickly and tripping on the way to the bathroom.
Exercises to Prevent Falls
While it’s impossible to prevent a fall completely, exercises focusing on balance and strength training can reduce the risk of falling.
You can join a gym that offers the Silver Sneakers program or participate in their exercise program from their website, www.silversneakers.com.
Vision And Hearing Problems in Older Adults.
Early detection and timely management of vision and hearing problems are critical slowing factors in increasing the quality of life for older adults.
According to a study from Singapore, people with hearing and vision problems have the most significant reduction in health expectancy and an overall lower life expectancy than those without or with just one of the problems.
The study found that at ages 60, 70, and 80, people with either vision or hearing problems could expect more years of remaining life with limited physical function and limitations in activities of daily living compared to those without impairments.
In the study, the researchers conclude that “timely and appropriate management of vision and hearing impairment, especially when coexisting, among older adults, has the potential to reduce the years of life they live with limitation in physical function and activities of daily living.”
According to Professor Patrick Casey, Senior Vice Dean for Research at Duke-NUS in Singapore, according to Science Daily.
Early detection and timely management of vision and hearing impairments by older adults, their families, and health systems are crucial to increasing the quality of life for older adults.
Illness may interfere with overall health during advancing age. As the body ages, the cardiovascular system does not work as efficiently as it did during youth. With good health, this gradual decline should not cause issues.
However, more severe problems can occur if an older person has a heart issue such as coronary artery disease.
It’s common for people to develop cardiovascular disease as they get older.
Conclusion
Remaining active is essential for staying healthy into old age.
Active living can include daily walks, bicycle rides, working in the yard, and spending time outdoors.
Daily activity not only benefits the body but also benefits emotional health through a sense of well-being.
Active senior citizens can maintain their independence for a long time while enjoying social contact with others daily.
Older people can also benefit cognitively from daily activity due to improved sleep patterns and concentration.
Eating well with adequate nutrition is another way the elderly can preserve their health as they age.
Preparation for aging can help with the process. Although many health problems are common with advancing age, people can take specific steps to preserve health and stay active.
Getting older does not have to involve rapidly declining health, sadness, and isolation.
Instead, older people can purposefully move forward to age successfully, enjoying retirement and redirection away from the energetic pursuits of youth.
You should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.”
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