As your loved ones age, staying healthy can become more of a challenge, particularly in situations where they may be resistant to following your advice or accepting your care. Awareness of common health conditions that affect elderly people in greater numbers is one of the best ways to prepare for when that time comes. Some conditions require more attention than others, with some requiring around-the-clock support and often more than one caregiver.
Let’s take a closer look at the most common illnesses that affect our dear elderly community so we can better understand what they are facing and how we can help.
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Perhaps the most common conditions that affect older adults, these illnesses involve a decline in memory and cognitive functions. People who live with Alzheimer’s or dementia may need help with daily activities like eating, dressing and even walking.
Parkinson’s disease
This neurological condition affects a person’s movement and can cause tremors, stiffness, and problems with balance. It can make managing day-to-day tasks extremely challenging, if not impossible.
As the disease progresses, individuals with Parkinson’s disease will probably need help moving around, caring for themselves, and a significant amount of attention and care.
Strokes
A stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, or when there is a blockage in the flow of blood to the brain. Strokes can vary in outcomes, ranging from paralysis, speech difficulties and memory problems.
Recovery also varies widely. Some people recover fully, while others never completely recover. Sometimes, people have multiple strokes and recover completely, too. It depends on the individual and the specific circumstances.
Heart disease
The term heart disease covers a range of conditions that affect the heart, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias and heart failure. Any of these can lead to a decreased ability to move around normally and can lead to regular chest pain and, sometimes, heart attacks.
Management of these conditions often requires strict monitoring, medication and help with daily activities.
Osteoporosis
This condition makes bones weak and much more likely to break. A small, insignificant fall in a person without osteoporosis can mean a bone fracture in an individual with this condition.
Patients require close monitoring to prevent falls and help in moving around to avoid fractures.
Diabetes
This disease affects the body’s ability to produce insulin effectively, which can lead to very high blood sugar levels. Diabetes can cause a range of complications, from heart disease to kidney damage, and even blindness.
Managing this condition requires strict diet control, monitoring of blood sugar levels and many doctor’s visits, which can take significant time and require lots of hands-on help.
Helping your loved ones manage
Knowing about these conditions is the first step in providing the right support for your loved ones. Whether it is offering a listening ear, asking about their condition, or becoming an active participant in their day-to-day activities, it can mean the world to them.
Elderly people can often feel alone because society does not do much to help integrate them and keep them inside communities.
Helping them manage their diseases is another way of helping. Remember that at a certain age, people are more prone to developing these conditions and need commitment from their loved ones, friends and neighbors so they can live as normal a life as possible.
