Regular check-ups and screenings are an important health habit. However, they become more and more important the older we get. Diseases like diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, and arthritis are more likely to occur the older we get and more likely to go undiagnosed the less we see a doctor. Several of these conditions don’t show symptoms until they’ve gotten worse. Nearly a quarter of visits to family physicians and 60% of hospital visits are from older adults. An annual checkup is an opportunity for a doctor to find something early and treat it or cure it more effectively.
What Does a Health Screening Include?
A health screening for seniors will likely include the checking of blood pressure, an eye exam, vaccination discussion, fall risk, checks for dementia, depression, and obesity. Some of these things are precursors for other more serious health issues, such as having high blood pressure. While nothing may be wrong, it is this kind of preventative care which will lead to more understanding and control over what happens in the life of a senior. This includes colonoscopies, mammograms, flu, pneumonia, and shingles vaccines. More generally, a health screening for a senior will cover preventative care, prescription review, and managing conditions.
What Managing Conditions Looks Like
A regular check-up could be a simple discussion about daily life and family history, but it’s a doctor who has training in recognizing symptoms that will be able to determine if any part of physical health needs more attention. They’ll be able to factor in the risk for disease, such as inherited conditions like cancer or diabetes, such that seniors will get the proper screenings to catch things early. They’ll be able to find health problems early and refer seniors to tests, specialists, and treatments. It’s this forward thinking that will likely avoid unnecessary stress, health issues and complications, and medical bills.
Freedom Home Care Can Help
If you or someone you know is a senior then consider regular doctor visits as a way to take care of their or your health. Whether growing older means being wise or transitioning towards personalized elder care, Freedom Home Care certified caregivers are available to assist. There are often symptoms in the day-to-day that go unnoticed. Just catching one of these symptoms can save a life. It’s never too late to get started on regular check-ups for seniors or to consider different options for improving health conditions.
