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AMA & AMA Alliance Offer Good Health Tips: Elderly Adults & Their Caregivers
Protect your quality of life by taking precautions - As we grow older, failing vision, loss of hearing and limited mobility become inevitable conditions. Given the problems that develop with age, the elderly must take particular health precautions.
As activities of daily living become a challenge, caring for the frail elderly involves careful prevention of mishaps. Here are some examples of how to do that:
Help prevent dangerous falls by tacking down scatter rugs, making sure stairwells are well lit, and removing small objects (such as toys and magazines) from their path.
Learn to recognize the signs of elder abuse, including yelling, pushing, pinching and hitting - and report them to the authorities.
Avoid hot water scalds by making sure hot and cold water faucets are color-coded and that handles are easy to turn. Provide the elderly with easy grip cooking utensils.
Look for signs of withdrawal and depression in elderly people who have suffered the loss of family members, friends and profession. These feelings may lead to thoughts of suicide, which is largely preventable through proper intervention.
Heat stress is a particular danger. During hot weather, make sure that the elderly drink plenty of water and are kept in air-conditioned rooms.
As the world progresses, so should our health concerns. And as they do, the relationship between patient and physicians becomes even more critical. When it comes to good health, your physician is your best ally. Let's all work together to have the healthiest America possible -- in the Year 2000 and beyond.
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