People are living longer than ever these days, which naturally means the amount of their lives they’ll need care will increase. An estimated 70 percent of older Americans will need care and assistance at some point in their twilight years. 9 out of 10 older Americans as well plan on staying in their home as long as possible, known as “aging in place”. This has become the ultimate retirement goal of the Boomer generation.
Strokes are the fifth largest killer of Americans today, with sadly over 800,000 Americans experiencing a stroke annually. While the statistics are unnerving, there are plenty of ways to make lifestyle changes that reduce your risk of stroke, possibly preventing one altogether.
COPD, short for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder, is an umbrella term that applies to multiple progressive lung conditions, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Nearly 16 million Americans currently have a diagnosis for COPD, but there are millions more living without knowing they have it. COPD is a relatively common condition, but it most affects older age groups, primarily those aged 65 or older, with most diagnoses happening at age 45 or older.
October is breast cancer awareness month, so there’s no better time to educate yourself about the risks and challenges the disease can pose. Like most cancers, breast cancer is a disease of aging, making it of particular interest to adults entering their twilight years. The median age of a breast cancer diagnosis is 62 years old, with 20 percent of women who are diagnosed with it age 75 or older.
While aging is an unavoidable fact of life, many of the negative effects we associate with aging are actually not. By taking good care of ourselves and living a healthy lifestyle, we can make sure to make the most out of each stage of our lives.
One of the many common complaints of aging is arthritis. The stiffness and soreness caused by swelling joints can make it more difficult to do tasks you once did easily, or even get around without discomfort.
One fact that many people know as an interesting bit of trivia is that the human body has 206 bones in the skeleton. But, there’s a follow up fact that is a bit lesser known. It’s that 52 of those bones, or more than a quarter, are contained in the feet! That makes it one of the most complicated and engineered structures in the body, and it makes sense because they’re literally the foundation on which the entire skeletal system, and the organs, muscles, and other tissues supported by it, rest.
Falling is the most preventable cause of injury to seniors, with one out of four seniors falling down each year. Less than half of those seniors who do fall will tell their doctors, and falling one time doubles your chances of falling again. One out of five falls will cause a serious injury such as a broken bone or head trauma. This means that one out of twenty seniors is seriously injured by a fall each year, making it one of the biggest dangers to older adults.
For older adults, loss of independence and control over their lives is a frightening prospect. In fact, many problems sadly common among seniors are a result of being too proud to ask for help for worry that they’ll be put into a home, and something that could have been easily corrected or prevented while it was minor, becomes something much more serious or dangerous. But there’s a way for older adults to retain their independence into their twilight years, while still receiving the help they need and staying safe. And that is through home health care services.
For seniors, continued social activity is critical to wellness. The National Institute on Aging has found a correlation between seniors’ overall health and the amount of social engagement. Emotional bonds lead to many positive health outcomes, such as healthier habits, positive mental health, and mental stimulation.
As many adults age into their twilight years, a lot of them are finding that everything they’ve collected over the course of their lives can sometimes be difficult to manage, or the spaces in which they’ve lived have become too much to manage on their own, now that their kids have moved out and they may no longer have a spouse.
Many Americans struggle with drinking, and with older adults, oftentimes the concerns and trouble signs go overlooked by relatives, caretakers, and others. Problems caused by alcohol in seniors might be mistaken for something else that may otherwise be a normal result of aging, but the fact is that alcoholism is a potentially serious issue at all stages of life, and should be taken seriously and treated with care and concern.
According to the CDC, most of the five million people treated each year for skin cancer are 65 years of age or older. Because less than half of older adults protect their skin adequately from the sun when outside for an hour or more, seniors can needlessly put themselves at a higher risk of developing melanoma, or other harmful skin cancers. And with adults living longer than ever, practicing life-long skin care habits is more important than ever.
The older we get, the more important it is to plan out important events, and other lifestyle changes throughout the year to come. Planning factors such as budgets, home changes, transportation and more can help us not forget anything, but also relieve us of the stress we might otherwise incur.