Health Tips for Older Adults
Depression in Older Adults
Depression has varied effects on every individual. It effects elderly more than that of young people. Depression commonly coexists with other physical conditions and impairments in the elderly and lasts longer. Depression in elderly people can lead to cardiac problems and illness which results into death.
Signs of Elderly Depression:
A) Sadness or feelings of despair.
B) Unexplained or aggravated aches and pains.
C) Loss of interest in socializing or hobbies.
D) Weight loss or loss of appetite.
E) Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness.
F) Lack of motivation and energy.
G) Sleep disturbances
H) Loss of self-worth
I) Slowed movement or speech.
J)Increased use of alcohol or other drugs.
K) Fixation on death; thoughts of suicide.
L) Memory problems.
Is melatonin safe for older adults ?
Because the quality of the evidence is low, the AASM guidelines does not recommend melatonin for adult insomnia, although it does offer mixed data showing a possibly higher reduction in sleep latency in the subgrou exercisep of older individuals.
Although melatonin has a minor effect on conventional insomnia, it may be beneficial for some forms of sleep disturbances, such as rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which is frequently linked with synucleinopathies such as Parkinson disease or Lewy body dementia. Melatonin is the primary pharmaceutical choice for older people in these conditions.
Fun Activities with Older Adults?
Some of the best activities that you can plan with elderly people are:
Parties and other social gatherings
Traditional games and puzzles
Animal interactions
Gardening, bird-watching, and other outdoor pastimes
Arts and crafts
Active learning
Dancing, karaoke and other Performing arts
Outings and excursions
Active games and sports
Can older adults get glandular fever?
Glandular fever affects persons of all ages, although teens and young adults are the most commonly affected. The majority of EBV infections are assumed to originate during childhood and generate relatively moderate or no symptoms. However, if a person contracts EBV throughout their adolescence, they may develop glandular fever.
How often should older adults be screened for diabetes
The American Diabetes Association states that the diabetes type 2 screening should be done annually, for the individuals above 45 years or if someone below 45 years who suffer from some serious health conditions.
A fasting plasma glucose level of 126 mg per dL or higher; an A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher; a random plasma glucose level of 200 mg per dL or higher; or a 75-g two-hour oral glucose tolerance test with a plasma glucose level of 200 mg per dL or higher can all be used to make the diagnosis.
Repeat testing on the following day is recommended to confirm the results; nevertheless, a single random plasma glucose level of 200 mg/dL or above with usual signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia most certainly indicated diabetes. Additional testing to identify diabetes aetiology is not commonly indicated.
How often should older adults exercise
Every day, older adults should engage in some form of physical exercise. Any form of movement is beneficial to your health. The more you accomplish, the better. Adults over the age of 65 should:
Make an effort to be physically active every day. Any action is preferable to none. Even if it’s only little activity, the more you do, the better.
Do activities that improve strength, balance, and flexibility at least twice a week.
Do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity if you are already active, or a combination of both.
Reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of inactivity with some activity.
Older adults health
Maintaining a healthy weight and providing your body with the proper nutrition can help older people to stay more independent. You’ll also save time and money by not going to the doctor. This is especially true if you have a chronic ailment like diabetes or heart disease.
As you age, your metabolism slows, requiring fewer calories than previously. Certain nutrients are also required by your body in greater quantities. That means it’s more vital than ever to eat foods with the highest nutritional content. Some tips while picking up your food
Know what a healthy plate looks like :
Look for important nutrients
Read the Nutrition Facts label
Use recommended servings
Stay hydrated
Stretch your food budget
How many older adults have Dementia?
Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather a broad term for the reduced capacity to recall, reason, or make judgments, which interferes with doing daily tasks. The most prevalent kind of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Though dementia mostly affects older persons, it is not a natural component of the ageing process.
In 2021, an estimated 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older will have Alzheimer’s disease. Seventy-two percent are 75 years old or older. Alzheimer’s disease affects one out of every nine adults aged 65 and over (11.3 percent).
Cold Weather Safety for Older Adults and Hypothermia
Elderly people lose body heat at a quicker rate than younger people. Changes in your body that occur as you age might make it more difficult for you to notice when you are feeling chilly.
Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops dangerously low. A body temperature of 95°F or below in an elderly person can lead to a variety of health issues, including a heart attack, renal difficulties, liver damage, and even death.
Being in the cold, or even in a very chilly house, might result in hypothermia. Try to avoid chilly locations, and keep an eye on how cold it is where you are. You may take precautions to reduce your risk of hypothermia. In actuality, hypothermia can occur in a nursing home or group facility if the rooms are not kept sufficiently warm. If someone is in a group facility, keep an eye on the indoor temperature and whether or not that individual is clothed warmly enough. Some sings of Hypothermia are:
1) Cold feet and hands
2) Puffy or swollen face
3) Pale skin
4) Shivering (in some cases the person with hypothermia does not shiver)
5) Slower than normal speech or slurring words
6) Acting sleepy
7) Being angry or confused
8) Moving slowly, trouble walking, or being clumsy
9) Stiff and jerky arm or leg movements
10) Slow heartbeat
11) Slow, shallow breathing
12) Blacking out or losing consciousness
What You Should Know About the Normal Blood Pressure Levels in Older Adults
It is critical for people of all ages, particularly older adults, to keep track of their blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause major health problems, particularly in the elderly.
Your arteries will gradually stiffen as you get older. This is regarded as one of the primary reasons why elderly persons are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
When purchasing a blood pressure monitor, be certain that it: Has an automatic monitor, and the cuff inflates on its own and it has a large enough screen for you to read your results.
The optimal blood pressure for seniors is currently 120/80 (systolic/diastolic), which is also the ideal blood pressure for younger persons. The hypertension range for seniors begins at hypertension stage 1, which ranges from 130-139/80-89.
Higher values indicate progressively serious hypertension; the long list of consequences linked with hypertension spans from an increased chance of heart failure to a higher risk of blindness.
Does Medicaid Pay for Older People?
Medicaid is partly funded up by the state and the government. You can only qualify for Medicaid if you have a lower level of income. So, the par at which you qualify for Medicaid differs for every individual.
Medicaid does pay for these assisted living services: Medication management, Nursing care Case management, Assessments and Medical exams. Medicaid covers the costs of basic health care for 7 million seniors.
Medicaid includes nursing home care and other long-term services and supports, as well as additional medical care and other services not covered by Medicare, allowing many low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities to remain independent and healthy. It also pays Medicare enrollees’ premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing.