One of the recurring themes that you will find within the world of senior care is that many illnesses and other health problems are age related. These are often easily prevented issues if they had been dealt with earlier in life, but by the time someone is a senior citizen, addressing the problem can be much more difficult.
One such example is called metabolic syndrome. Estimates say that as many as 40 percent of people above the age of 60 suffer from this, and it is a contributor to other diseases like diabetes and even some types of cancer. With this health issue, the body’s metabolism slows down and weight is often gained. It puts people at a higher risk of obesity, and this is why so many health issues are caused by it. The simplest way to combat this is through exercise, but for many elderly folk, that is a very tough task. Yes, there’s an exercise out there for almost everyone. But by the time metabolic syndrome has a noticeable impact on someone’s health, it is often too late for exercise to prevent that problem. Cutting out alcohol consumption is also an easy fix to this issue.
Cancer is another disease that sees its risk skyrocket as we age. The older you are, the more likely your chances are of being diagnosed with a form of cancer. Eating well and eliminating smoking from your life can help. For the elderly, the best way to approach this is by going in for regular checkups at the doctor.
Cardiovascular disease is another major age related health issue. It can be a contributor to heart attacks and strokes, and often leaves the individual that is at risk in a state of disability. In these instances, professional senior care of some sort becomes a must. This can range from part-time in-home care up to intensive care within a skilled nursing facility. However, avoiding cardiovascular illness altogether is a far superior alternative. Better diet, exercise, quitting smoking, and other healthy habits can decrease your loved one’s risk of this quickly. The sooner these habits are adopted, the better off your parent will be.
If you are younger and you are currently acting as a caregiver for an elderly parent or grandparent, you know better than anyone what kind of difficulties need to be addressed as we get older. Being a caregiver is a tough task by any measure of things, but there are also things that you can learn from it and apply to your own life. Be sure to pay attention to difficulties that may run in your family, and if at all possible, address any changes in your own lifestyle that you might need to make. While it might be too late to make these preventative changes in your mom or dad, it isn’t too late to make them for yourself. Making healthy choices now will ensure that you have a higher quality of life and less of a need for in-home care as you age.
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