As we age, choosing healthier foods and beverages is even more important for our health. Unpasteurized milk and dairy products, fried foods, high-sodium foods, and certain raw produce are among the foods to avoid or limit at any age.
Chronic health conditions
According to the National Council on Aging, about 92 percent of seniors have at least one chronic disease and 77 percent have at least two. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes are among the most common and costly chronic health conditions causing two-thirds of deaths each year.
Loss of Independence
Losing physical functions and having to rely on others for daily care is the biggest fear among seniors. According to a 2010 study from the Disabled Living Foundation, more seniors fear losing independence than dying.
Dealing with depression, loneliness, loss of appetite, weak feet and muscles are some of the problems the elderly face that you may not know. Many thanks to caregivers who strive to create the perfect environment to help the elderly overcome these challenges.
Focus on abilities.
Older adults who focus on what they can do and find rewarding, rather than any decline in abilities, are happier. According to a study in The Gerontologist, accepting aging and adapting to age-related changes is vital to successful aging and well-being.
Heath Care Costs – The cost of care is skyrocketing and as we get older, we require more care. The regular office visits, specialists, procedures and medications – all of these are very costly and they impact the resources of seniors dramatically. Consistently, this tops every list of senior citizen concerns.
Confusion often presents a challenge to nurses caring for older adults. Three common states that result in confusion are delirium, dementia, and depression. The three conditions are compared and contrasted in this article.
What foods should the elderly avoid? Your elderly loved one should eliminate excessive consumption of salt, sugar and saturated trans fats. Stay away from highly processed foods, sugary carbonated drinks and fast food. As for the specific products they should avoid, it is mainly foods that can cause food poisoning.
conditions, physical disability, cognitive impairment, and other functional limitations. for medical care, medication, food, and other essential needs. If older adults are not able to get the medications, equipment, or special care they need, they can be at increased risk of complications and death during an emergency.
Older adults are at higher risk for chronic health problems like diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, 1 in 3 older adults fall each year, and falls are a leading cause of injury for this age group. Physical activity can help older adults prevent both chronic disease and fall-related injuries.
Usually, personal hygiene (specifically bathing) is one of those things that gets neglected. So how often should an elderly bathe? To avoid any skin conditions or infections, a senior should bathe at least once or twice a week.
Research shows that two-thirds of aging Americans older than 65 need assistance doing day-to-day activities such as eating, bathing, cooking, moving around, etc. Almost half of Americans aged 85 or older have Alzheimer's or some other type of dementia.
After age 30, people tend to lose lean tissue. Your muscles, liver, kidney, and other organs may lose some of their cells. This process of muscle loss is called atrophy. Bones may lose some of their minerals and become less dense (a condition called osteopenia in the early stages and osteoporosis in the later stages).
Senior citizens need proper medication to remain healthy. This begins with adequate medical care, such as doctor's visits, dental care, foot care, eye care, physical therapy and psychiatric therapy, if needed.
Cognitive decline can cause aging adults to have sudden outbursts of anger. Symptoms of cognitive decline include memory loss and difficulty understanding basic information. Your loved one might become upset if he or she can't recall a particular word or remember the name of a familiar place.
Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss. Loneliness is the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact.
Older people also face challenges in being able to access: » Suitable services in rural and remote areas; » Services that are sensitive to people's cultural needs; » Services that are sensitive to the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people; » Adequate social housing services; » Mental ...
For example, agitation and anxiety both commonly increase with age and can cause noticeable personality changes. You or your loved one might feel more nervous or on-edge than you used to, or you may get frustrated more easily. Impulsive and reckless behavior are also common personality changes that occur in seniors.
Comfort. There's no place like home, and wherever senior citizens stay, their comfort should always be a top priority. As they start to spend more time indoors than they used to, physical comfort becomes more and more important.