Elder Care for Parents should include routine health maintenance activities, an immunization schedule against contagious diseases, routine screenings for potential illnesses, and lifestyle activities. As we age and the body becomes more prone to chronic physical problems, having a wellness plan gains in importance for the individual

What preventive measures should be included in a Senior Care health plan?

Routine Elder Care for Parents

1. Physical Examination (Primary Care Physician) Annually after age 50

  • Height, Weight, BMI, Blood Pressure
  • Clinical Breast and/or Testicular Exam
  • Screening for alcohol, smoking, or drug use
  • Depression screening

2. Self Examination of Breast/Testicles monthly

3. Women – PAP and Pelvic exam annually until age 65, if no abnormal findings or increased risk may go to every three years.

4. Dental visits every 6 months for cleaning and preventive care.

5. Eye Examination every 1-2 years, or as recommended by physician.

Immunizations:

1. Diphtheria – Tetanus – Pertussis Booster every 10 years.

2. Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine at age 60.

3. Influenza annually after age 65.

4. Pneumococcal Vaccine at age 65.

5. Varicella, if no history of immunity and living with young children.

Routine Screenings for Disease:

1. Blood Studies

  • Lipid Panel every 5 years after age 20, or more frequently as indicated from results/risk profile.
  • Prostate Specific antigen (PSA) annually
  • Glucose every three years; annually if at risk.

2. Mammography annually for age 40 and older.

3. Digital Rectal Exam for Prostate Cancer annually after age 50; for African Americans after age 40.

4. Colorectal Screening – For men and women ages 50 to 75 years (and in some cases 75 to 85 years).

  • Colonoscopy every 10 years (preferred)
  • Or, High Sensitivity Stool for Occult Blood annually
  • Or, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years with Occult Blood Testing every 3 years.

5. DXA (bone-density) testing for Osteoporosis, women ages 65 or older, or starting at menopause if additional risk factors exist.  Baseline test.

Can changes in Care for Parents improve their health as they age?

Changing lifestyle can help reduce risk and prevent some potential problems.  Changes that should be implemented include:

  • Smoking Cessation
  • Reducing alcohol consumption
  • Seat belt safety
  • Improving nutrition to by reducing high fat and sodium items and increasing vegetable and fruits in the daily diet.
  • Maintaining adequate hydration by drinking more water and less coffee or tea.
  • Start or maintain routine exercise daily.  Type and amount of exercise should be discussed with your physician prior to beginning exercise.
  • Firearm safety – Firearms should be removed from homes where an individual has had a change in mental status, as a result of depression or dementia.
  • Environmental safety for fall prevention.

Should my parent be taking any specific over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements to reduce risk and enhance wellness?

Each individual is unique in their own health history.  All over-the-counter medications and supplements should be discussed with your physician prior to use.  The effectiveness of many over-the-counter medications and supplements has not been studied scientifically and their possible benefits have only been anecdotally reported.  In addition, there are side effects and other drug interactions that may occur when using these products with prescription medications.  Therefore, the best source for how helpful or harmful these products may be is your personnel physician.