Healthy Living
Medical Conditions that Affect the Elderly and How They Can Be Managed
The older population of the United States is growing more rapidly in size as compared to the rest of the population. According to the United States Census Bureau, by the year 2030, there will be more people older than the age of 65 than people under the age of 18.
What then is its significance in the provision of health care? This basically means that health care professionals are faced with the fact that they must design approaches to address the problems of the aging population. It is important to note though, that most of the medical conditions that the elderly are experiencing can be managed, limited and to a certain extent prevented.
In managing the medical conditions or problems of the elderly, being totally dependent on the health care provider is not a solution. Health care is a team effort between clients and their health care providers.
Aging is a normal process that begins at birth and continues throughout one’s life. In this process of change, many things happen to us. Certain conditions may be normal while others are conditions that need to be properly dealt with. Following are common medical problems that the elderly may experience and what can be done to prevent them, delay their onset or limit their progression.
Insomnia
Most adults need around 8 hours of sleep at night but the need for sleep either stays the same or decreases a bit as people age.
People over the age of 65 are more prone to have problems related to sleep and although difficulty in sleeping is common among the elderly, insomnia should not be treated as a normal part of aging but rather as a condition that needs to be addressed.
In managing insomnia, the first step is to assess what might be causing it. You may start by examining your sleep-wake pattern by creating a sleep diary. Your sleep diary should include all periods of rest during the day and at night, your daily diet as well as all medications that you are taking. You may also note how restful each sleep was. After finishing creating your diary, you may look into your activities, sleep patterns and daily intake to see if there are any obvious reasons why you are unable to get restful sleep at night. Your sleep diary may also be useful when consulting your health care provider during your next visit.
What can be done to sleep better?
- Try to establish a sleep pattern by going to bed and getting up at the same time each day
- Long periods of daytime sleeping are discouraged but you may take short naps not longer than 20 minutes
- If unable to sleep, warm milk and soft music may help you relax
- Avoid caffeinated drinks
- Drinking alcoholic beverages might help you sleep but it is also most likely that you would also get up in the middle of the night
- A little exercise everyday may also be helpful. A regular pattern of activity and rest encourages restful nighttime sleep.
- Caregivers may also provide backrubs to help their loved ones relax.
Dementia
Dementia is described as a group of symptoms that are caused by damage to the brain. According to familydoctor.org, damage to the brain cells may be caused by a head trauma, a stroke, a tumor or a condition such as Alzheimer’s disease. Aside from these, some people may also have a family history of dementia.
People who are suffering from this condition have difficulty in remembering, communicating and learning and as the condition persists and progresses, patients may not even be able to do things that he or she usually does such as activities of daily living.
One of the most common symptoms of dementia is memory loss but mere memory loss does not equate to dementia. It is true that we all sometimes forget a thing or two but we later on remember. The difference between normal adults and patients suffering from dementia is that when they forget, they never remember. They may keep on asking a certain question and get the same answer over and over again but do not even remember that they have asked the same question and have gotten the same answer repeatedly.
In order to prevent dementia, you must involve yourself in activities that are cognitive in nature such as chess, reading or taking up a hobby that is of interest to you. This goes to show that there is some truth to the saying that “If we don’t use it, we lose it.” The elderly may also enroll in short courses that involve memory building exercises. Some communities also provide activities for the elderly so that time would be spent wisely and positively. Constant interaction and communication with people in the community are also vital in the delay of the symptoms of dementia.
Early Prevention:
- Supplement diet with Vitamin C and E
Osteoporosis
Mosby’s pocket dictionary of medicine, nursing and allied health defines Osteoporosis as “a disorder characterized by abnormal loss of bone density and deterioration of bone tissue, with an increased fracture risk”.
Patients suffering from Osteoporosis are prone to fractures. It is therefore the responsibility of caregivers or patients themselves to ensure safety at all times. Below are some tips from the Mayo clinic to prevent falls:
Tips on Preventing Falls
- Involve yourself in activities that improve strength, balance and coordination. Before proceeding with your chosen activity, make sure that your doctor has given you a go signal.
- Always buy shoes that have a good fit and have soles that are non-skid.
- Remove the clutter around the house.
- Secure all loose mats and rugs.
- Immediately clean spilled liquids.
- A lamp near your bed would be very helpful at times when you wake up in the middle of the night. Nightlights around the house would also be helpful.
- If possible, install switches at the top and bottom of the stairs.
- Install grab bars in the shower.
- Buy a hand held shower nozzle and place a sturdy plastic seat so that taking a shower while sitting down may be possible.
In order to prevent bone destruction, exposure to sunlight, vitamin D and calcium supplementation in the diet and adequate exercise is advised.
Incontinence
Incontinence is a very common condition among the elderly but it is more common in women over the age of 50 years old.
There are 4 major types of incontinence:
Stress Incontinence
In this type of incontinence, urine leaks as a result of sudden pressure on the lower muscles of the stomach. Sudden pressure may be caused by coughing, laughing or lifting something.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence may occur due to a problem with some of our muscles. Our detrusor muscles are responsible for sending a signal to the brain that there is a need to urinate. In this type of incontinence, there is absolutely no warning that we are about to lose urine.
Overflow Incontinence
Overflow incontinence is a type of incontinence that is characterized by constant dripping of urine due to an overfilled bladder. This condition may be a result of another medical condition such as an enlarged prostate or a tumor.
Functional
This type of incontinence occurs when you have normal urine control but have difficulty getting to the bathroom on time due to another medical condition that restricts you from moving about freely
Urinary incontinence may be embarrassing to most people but there are several ways in which it may be managed. If the incontinence is caused by a medical condition, normal urinary functioning will return once the condition is treated.
Strengthening the pelvic muscles may also be helpful in some types of incontinence and this may be done through Kegel exercises. Go to www.familydoctor.org for a description of how to properly perform a kegel excerise:
Depending on your condition, medicine and surgery are other options that also address incontinence.
In a nutshell, insomnia, dementia, osteoporosis and incontinence are common among the elderly but being common does not mean that they are normal conditions in aging. These medical conditions may be dealt with by being our own advocates for our own health. One’s lifestyle contributes immensely to one’s health. What we do to our bodies results to either health or illness.
In the course of the many changes in our lives, we must be responsible for our own well-being and at all times keep in mind that as always, prevention is better than cure.
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