Your senior loved one’s primary care physician may provide preventive services to the elderly that will help them avoid health problems. These services are critical to finding issues early and maintaining wellness.
When your doctor can detect health problems early on, it’s easier to treat and cure them. The patient is often more responsive to treatment. Read our list of preventive care services recommended for older adults.
Understanding the Importance of Preventative Services for the Elderly
When your loved one participates in an adult day care program—or even if they stay at home—it’s important to prioritize preventative care. Their health can affect their ability and mobility greatly, but it can also affect those around them. When your loved one attends regular visits with a primary care physician, he or she can stay up to date with the most important preventative care.
Mental and cognitive health
A primary physician should be checking for depression and signs of cognitive impairment in seniors. Tobacco or alcohol abuse early in life may contribute to the deterioration of your loved one’s cognition. Your doctor can also check for signs of functional impairment and provide recommendations for treatment.
Physical health
Elderly preventive health care is critical. Overall wellness and mobility decline with age, so screening for physical ailments are helpful as they help find diseases that may not be causing symptoms yet.
Some of these conditions include:
- High-blood pressure
- High-cholesterol
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
Cancer screening
Some of the most essential screenings your doctor will perform are cancer screenings or other severe diseases that need immediate treatment. It’s crucial to get a screening for the following types of cancer depending on your loved one’s risk factors:
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostrate cancer
Vaccination
To take preventative measures, your loved one should get regular vaccinations. The Influenza vaccine is recommended every year for everyone aged six months or older. The Pneumococcal vaccination is for all adults aged 65+. There are two types, Prevnar and Pneumovax. And for the Shingles vaccine, it is recommended for most older adults aged 50+.
Adult Daycare Cares about Your Family!
There’s a long list of preventative services for your elderly loved one that you should consider. At Nevada Adult Day Healthcare, we are knowledgeable on how to care for your loved ones and care about conditions they may have. We are ready to help you take care of your senior family member. Visit any of our adult daycare locations to learn more today.
