It’s no secret that there are more elderly people in the United States now than ever before, but what you might not know is that the obesity rate of the elderly is not improving. In fact, a recent survey has shown that the obesity rate of those in nursing homes has gone up between 2000 and now. Then, it was 14.7 percent. By 2010, it had gone up to 25 percent. Although there are no exact numbers for the year 2015, every indication says that it has gone up yet again. This is a huge problem because of the larger number of senior citizens, and the rising obesity rate in this country is beginning to show here, too. It is a very serious problem, and there’s no clear solution to this yet.
This is not encouraging news for the elderly, but it is information that needs to be taken with a grain of salt. First, this information is in regards to those that reside within nursing homes. Obesity carries serious health detriments with it, so it’s no surprise that there are more obese people in nursing homes than not. Cardiovascular disease becomes more likely in these instances, as does diabetes. These can all cause permanent disabilities and make the need for a nursing home greater.
If you have an elderly loved one that you are caring for, you might be considering a nursing home for them. In some instances, a nursing home is the right choice, but in others it is not. If you do need a caregiver, something like in-home care is usually the best choice. It eliminates the need for them to move out of their home, and it helps them to maintain their freedom for a little bit longer. This might not seem like a big deal, but to them, it truly is. Nobody really wants to go into a nursing home, and if it can be avoided, it should be. However, although in-home care is far cheaper than a nursing home, this doesn’t automatically mean that it should be your top choice. Evaluate your loved one’s needs, and then go from there. It is far more important that they get the assistance that they need, rather than you go with what is best for your pocketbook or for them without thinking things through carefully. Consult a doctor if you have any questions. This should help you to make a more educated decision in this area.
The main thing that we should take away from this study is the fact that obesity is a huge problem. Helping your mother or father keep their weight at a healthy level is a big part of improving their long term health. Senior care is expensive to begin with, and when your loved one has a higher body mass index than what is healthy, they are more likely to need to be in a nursing home in the future, and this will only end up increasing the cost of their care in the future. Losing weight is hard for some people, but the long term health benefits of staying at a healthy weight is an important part of senior care for everyone.
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