If you are caring for a senior loved one, September is a good time to check what is due on the screening calendar. Summer travel is over, the holidays are still weeks away, and most primary care offices have appointments open. Here is a list of five routine screenings and checkups that are important for seniors before the year turns.
An Annual Wellness Visit
The wellness visit is the anchor. Book it first. During this visit, the doctor reviews your loved one’s medical history, updates the medication list, and gives the primary care team a fresh look at weight and blood pressure. The National Institute on Aging's checklist for preparing for a doctor's appointment is a useful primer if your loved one hasn't had a visit in a while.
Bone Density and Fall Risk Assessment
A DEXA scan is a quick, painless imaging test to measure bone density and body composition. Depending on the result, your doctor may recommend supplements, weight-bearing exercises, or medication to strengthen bones.
Alongside the scan, ask the office to run a formal fall risk screen. Ten minutes, tops. It is a short set of questions and a few movement tests, and the results give you a real number to work with.
Vision, Hearing, and Cognitive Baseline
Vision changes are the sneakiest fall risk. A yearly eye exam catches cataracts and glaucoma early, and it updates the prescription that lets your loved one see the edge of a curb. Hearing gets similar treatment; both should be checked every 12 to 18 months.
The cognitive baseline is worth doing while everything feels fine. A short screen now gives healthcare providers something to compare against if a family member starts wondering about memory changes next spring. Nothing dramatic. Just a data point.
Cardiovascular Checks and Blood Pressure
A lipid panel and A1C together tell you a lot about how the heart and metabolism are doing. Fasting for the blood draw makes results more reliable.
Blood pressure at home, taken twice a week at the same time of day, is far more useful than a single reading in a clinic. Write the numbers on the fridge. Pattern beats any single reading.
Seasonal Immunizations
Autumn is the ideal time to update vaccines for the coming season. Get vaccines to increase immunity before the virus hits. As people age, they need more antigen to produce antibodies to fight a virus.
Managing the Health of Your Senior Loved One
None of these visits is dramatic on its own. Together, they give you a map of what to watch and what can wait. If you would like help getting your senior relative to appointments, keeping records organized, or walking through results at the kitchen table, the team at Senior Helpers Henderson supports families across Henderson, Paradise, Whitney, Boulder City, and Enterprise. Contact us to discuss what would help most this fall.