health
Preventive Measures in Geriatric Age
In the geriatric age (over 65 years old), there are about 60 percent relatively healthy individuals, about 30 percent chronically ill, and approximately 10 percent frail. Individuals in the first group live independently and do not require much assistance; the most important thing is to prevent the onset of illness. The chronically ill group mainly consists of individuals who are functional or require minimal assistance. It is necessary to detect diseases in older individuals before the appearance of symptoms and treat them in the early stages, or at least slow the progression of the disease and prevent the onset of physical frailty.
TL;DR
- Approximately 60% of individuals over 65 are relatively healthy, 30% are chronically ill, and 10% are frail.
- Preventive measures include regular screenings for lipids, blood sugar, prostate cancer (PSA test), osteoporosis, blood pressure, and body weight.
- Mental status assessments for dementia and delirium, as well as tests for occult blood in stool, eye exams, hearing tests, and thyroid function tests, are recommended.
- Low-dose aspirin (100 mg daily) is suggested for preventing heart attack, stroke, and colorectal cancer.
- Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy every 10 years for individuals aged 50-65 is advised, with additional monitoring if polyps are found.
- Good hygiene, light physical activity, fall prevention, and vaccinations (influenza and pneumococcal) are crucial.
- Smoking cessation and avoiding alcohol are vital for preventing chronic diseases.
- Geriatric depression screening and comprehensive health assessments help create personalized care plans.
- Recent research suggests moderate to intense exercise, aggressive blood pressure reduction, and low LDL-C levels may not improve cognitive function in cases of dementia or cognitive decline.