4 Ways Geriatric Care Helps You Age Gracefully
Getting old can be a scary prospect. However, with proper geriatric care, you can age gracefully and enjoy the golden years of your life with health and happiness.
How Your Health Needs Change As You Get Older
Once you reach the age of 40, your health needs start to slowly change. Your metabolism slows down, hormones begin to diminish, and your health care needs begin to shift. Past the age of 50, your doctor will begin to add extra items to your annual physical, and once you pass 65, you’re officially considered geriatric.
At Indus Healthcare, with offices located in Pomona, West Covina, and Montclair, California, Dr. Amit Paliwal provides care for geriatric patients across the entire spectrum of health, to keep you in the best shape possible for an active, fulfilling life.
Preserving your health as your needs change with age
You can preserve your health through attention to diet, fitness, appropriate medical care, and regular checkups, as well as adherence to medication regimens. You may need to make changes to your exercise routines to incorporate low-impact workouts, and change your dietary intake to include more fiber and fewer calories.
You’ll also want to stay on top of visits to your primary care doctor, as well as hearing and vision providers, in order to spot problems as soon as they start to crop up. Aging may mean changes in your health needs, but it doesn’t have to mean accepting a breakdown of basic functions!
Health conditions associated with aging
Some of the most common issues you should be on the lookout for as you age are:
Hearing loss
Age-related hearing loss may not be preventable, but early detection can mean you get help sooner. If you worked in a job where you were exposed to loud or persistent noise, you’re more at risk. A hearing test is part of your annual physical.
Vision impairment
Age-related vision loss is also likely, and may show up as cataracts, glaucoma, or macular degeneration. If you have diabetes, your risk for additional eye problems like retinopathy go up. Having your vision checked annually with a dilated eye exam can help catch problems early.
Bone loss
Age-related bone loss can lead to fragile or brittle bones and increase your risk of breaking a bone. A bone density scan can show if you’re losing bone and if bone formation is slowing. You can take certain supplements and medications under a doctor’s supervision to help slow bone loss.
Fall risk
The older you get, the higher your risk of injuring yourself in a fall. A fall can lead to a broken bone, a slipped disc, or a head injury, and every fall doubles your chance of falling again. Your doctor will check in with you about your balance and the sensation in your feet and lower legs, and may suggest updating your home to include extra lighting, bars, and railings to reduce your fall risk.
Chronic conditions
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, pulmonary disease, dementia, and other conditions all become more likely with age. Dr. Paliwal asks questions at each visit, and determines what tests to run to help identify and treat age-related health problems as they arise.
To get in touch with the geriatric specialists at Indus Healthcare, call the location closest to you, or visit the contact page for more information.
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