Happy elderly man spending time with his adult son and daughter at home, symbolizing family care, support, and health awareness.

Elderly Parents Need Your Attention

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We are getting old but so are our parents and elders around us. About 11.1% population in India is aged 60 years and older. Older adults undergo a lot of changes in their body due to aging which can lead to numerous health issues like diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, etc. Aging also hints towards the body’s increasing demand for maintaining optimal nutrition, strength training, exercises, and regular checkups that mainly focus on cardiac activities, signs of frailty, and deficiencies.

In this busy life we need to remind ourselves that our parents and loved ones need to be taken care of and to be looked after. We can start with small steps like checking in on their diet, daily routine, scheduling regular health checkups, medication compliance, and even helping them to make their daily routine and chores easier.

Some Home Safety Tips for Older Adults

  • Install bright lighting and lightweight curtains/shades.
  • Install handrails and lights on all staircases, making pathways and walkways around them well lit.
  • Remove or secure rugs, doormats, and carpets with double-sided tape that can cause slips and falls; replace them with non-slip mats, especially in bathrooms or wet areas.
  • Store medications safely and arrange them in an accessible manner.
  • Keep commonly used items in cabinets that are easy to reach.
  • Install smoke alarms.
  • Keep emergency contacts on speed dial for easy access.
  • Check in on their mental health since anxiety and depression are common in older adults.

Signs That Warrant Medical Attention

Things you can look out for that require medical attention:

  • Complaints of difficulty reading or blurry vision.
  • Not able to hear whispered voice.
  • History of falls or feeling dizzy when standing.
  • Constant urge to use the washroom or wetting clothes.
  • Unintentional weight loss of more than 7 kg in 5–6 months.
  • Feeling sad or depressed, or difficulty remembering things.
  • Feeling breathless or needing to sit after climbing stairs.

At-Home Evaluation

Checklist you can follow to assess if their health is affecting their daily routine and their need for medical attention:

1. Ask about history of falling — perform a stand up and go test (get up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, walk back, and sit down). If it takes more than 13 seconds, fall risk is high.

2. Ask if they experience urine leaks or wetness for more than 6 separate days — this checks muscle control and health issues.

3. Ask if they lost more than 4.5 kg in 6 months — check weight monthly for nutritional deficits.

4. Show them 3 items and ask them to recall after 1–10 minutes — to check forgetfulness.

5. Observe any decline in interest in activities they used to enjoy, feelings of sadness or loneliness — this can indicate depression.

Common Diseases and Health Issues Associated with Old Age

Common conditions that can hinder normal activities in older age include: hearing loss, cataracts, diabetes, depression, dementia, back and neck pain, and refractive errors.
Multiple underlying factors include frailty, urinary incontinence, falls, delirium, and pressure ulcers.

What More Can Be Done to Support Their Health

  • Health Insurance: Senior citizens often need regular checkups, tests, or surgeries for chronic or age-related illnesses like cataracts. Health insurance ensures cashless hospitalization, better access to care, and peace of mind.
  • Teleconsultation: Set up online health records with Care247 and encourage teleconsultations with geriatric specialists when needed.
  • Regular Health Checkups or Home Visits: Arrange hospital visits or monthly nurse/lab visits to track blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
  • Digital Health Tracking: Use glucose monitoring patches, digital thermometers, or smartwatches with health tracking to detect early signs and symptoms.

References

  1. Bates Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking – Chapter 27 – ‘The Older Adult’
  2. World Health Organization – Ageing and Health

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