As you age, your bones shrink and become less dense. This weakens them and makes them more likely to fracture if you get injured. Muscles also lose strength, flexibility and stamina. All of this can negatively affect balance, coordination and stability. People in the United States today can expect to live longer than ever.
Once you reach age 65, data suggests that you can live another 19.3 years, on average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Therefore, for many, senior living includes carefully managing chronic diseases to stay healthy. So, you too may be among the 41 percent of people over 65 who say their health is very good or excellent, according to the CDC. While the flu and pneumonia are not chronic diseases, these infections are among the eight leading causes of death in people over 65, according to the CDC. Older people are more vulnerable to these diseases and are less likely to fight them.
Health care recommendations for older people include getting a flu shot every year and getting a pneumonia shot, if recommended by a doctor, to prevent these infections and their life-threatening complications. An analysis of data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions suggests that one in five people over the age of 65 has had a substance or alcohol abuse problem at some point in their lives. Alcohol and tobacco topped the list of non-medical substances that were abused by survey participants. Substance and alcohol abuse is a matter of concern for the health of older people because of potential interactions with prescription drugs, their impact on general health, and increased health risks for older people, such as falls, related to poisoning.
Obesity is a major risk factor for the health of older people, as a result of heart disease, diabetes and cancer, all chronic diseases that affect quality of life. As the numbers on the scale increase, so does the risk of illness. Of adults between 65 and 74 years old, 36.2 percent of men and 40.7 percent of women are obese, meaning their body mass index is greater than or equal to 30 according to the CDC. It can also be a sign that an older adult isn't as active or mobile as before. According to the American Psychological Association, 15 to 20 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have experienced depression.
Depression, a health threat to older people, can lower immunity and compromise a person's ability to fight infections. In addition to treatment with medication and therapy, other ways to improve the lives of older people may include increasing physical activity. 59.4 percent of adults age 65 and older don't meet CDC recommendations for exercise or social interaction. More seniors say they spend only 8 to 11 percent of their free time with family and friends, according to the Federal Inter-Agency Forum on Statistics Related to Aging. Tooth and gum health is important not only for having a beautiful smile and easy eating, but also for the overall health of older people.
According to the CDC, 25 percent of adults over the age of 65 have no natural teeth. As you age, your mouth tends to dry out and cavities are harder to prevent, so proper oral health care, including regular dental checkups, should be a healthcare priority for older people, according to Dr. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as quitting smoking and losing weight, can help you avoid health risks for older people, although “you must also be physically active and follow a healthy diet,” explains Jeanne Wei, MD, PhD, executive director of the Reynolds Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. A longer life brings opportunities for physical health, not only for older people but also for family members.
However, experts recognize that cognitive impairment has a significant impact on the health of older people in all aspects, from security and personal care issues to the costs of care, whether at home or in a residential facility...
