Having annual, if not regular, wellness exams are vital to people of all ages. But when it comes to your parents who eventually run into critical health conditions and disorders, undergoing preventive care screening is a “must-do” to help predict and delay subsequent complications. But, among tons of health exams, which ones should your parents get? Read on to learn more about 9 recommended health screenings for seniors right down below.
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A Path To Actively Improve Your Elders’ Health
What Do Preventive Care Screenings Cover?
Regardless of your parents’ physical state, preventive care screenings are essential. But, what is preventive care screening? Specifically, it helps detect, prevent, and delay the development of common yet critical health conditions prevalent to seniors.
Preventive care screening covers all categories, including:
- Safety and functional ability
- Cancer or tumor screening
- Physical health
- Medications for prevention
- Mental health
- Cognitive health
- Vaccinations
Recommended Preventive Care Screenings For Seniors
Blood Pressure Test
Unstable blood pressure can be a sign of several illnesses and conditions affecting your cardiovascular health. That said, having regular, if not daily, blood pressure tests are critical in diagnosing and preventing cardiac problems, especially for your senior family members.
Cholesterol/Lipid Blood Test
Along with smoking, inactivity, and diabetes, high cholesterol is one of many factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. Although it’s not the top indication that could affect your parents’ cardiac health in general, health organizations have recommended that aging adults and those with cardiac disease risk factors get more frequent testing every 5 years.
Osteoporosis Screening
Osteoporosis might result in costly osteoporosis fractures if left undiagnosed and untreated. Even if your parents are not at risk for osteoporosis, doctors suggest that every adult get an osteoporosis test every 2 years, especially postmenopausal women. Suppose one of your parents is already taking osteoporosis medications. They should get tested for bone density every 1 or 2 years in this case.
Diabetes Screening
It’s estimated that more than 25% of adults over 65 have diabetes. So, don’t skip diabetes screening if one of your parents is overweight or obese since they are at higher risk of having diabetes. Whatever the case, getting a blood test in advance will help detect if your parents have prediabetes, allowing healthcare providers to work on lifestyle modifications to delay developing diabetes type 2.
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Hearing Test
Hearing loss is one of the most common chronic health concerns in seniors, following hypertension and arthritis. Although most adults consider hearing loss a normal part of aging, hearing impairment may adversely impact your parents’ daily communication, associated with decreased quality of your parents’ life.
Skin Check
In the US, the majority of skin cancer cases are detected in adults over the age of 65. However, this critical health issue is frequently overlooked. That’s why you should encourage your parents to see a dermatologist at least once a year for a full-body examination.
Vaccinations
Aging elders are prone to catch flu due to decreased immunity with increasing age, as it’s reported that 70-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older. As a result, your parents should get flu shots and a pneumococcal vaccine that protects your parents from pneumonia complications.
Eye Exam
Regular eye exams can help your parents avoid common eye conditions in seniors, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease. This preventive care also tremendously contributes to the prediction of further optical complications in asymptomatic seniors. According to doctors, adults at 65 and over should have eye exams at least once a year.
Obesity Test
As we age, our metabolism slows down, actively putting every elder at risk of obesity. Of course, engaging in physical activities and following a diet can significantly help turn over our metabolism. Meanwhile, adjusting your parents’ diet is easy; getting them to exercise is practically impossible as they often run into limited mobility later in life. So how do you get an obesity screening? Body Mass Index (BMI) test is a primary method to diagnose obesity. Suppose you are concerned about your parents seemingly being at risk. In that case, experts suggest that every adult should undergo a BMI test once a year.
Health Awareness At 12 Oaks Senior Living
At 12 Oaks Senior Living communities, our top priority is your parents’ health. The staff at 12 Oaks communities are trained to watch for changes in health or behavior that may necessitate a doctor visit. We stay in communication with family members to keep them informed of any prospective issues or needs for our residents. A healthy physical state contributes to a contented state of mind and a high quality of life at 12 Oaks Senior Living communities.
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