RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Certain eldercare health risks have been identified by the Seniorlink care advisors as predicting the need for careful eldercare planning - including confusion, memory loss, falling and appetite loss, among others. Although the process of aging can vary widely depending on each individual’s unique characteristics, some general themes help to explain the physical changes commonly seen in older people. For example, senses become less acute, muscle mass declines, flexibility decreases and reaction time slows down. Bodily organs also begin to decline, resulting in a gradual loss of function. Factors like genes, lifestyle and disease all influence the rate of these changes. Elders and their caregivers need to be aware of these.

When changes in an elder’s health take place slowly, the individual and their families are able to adapt and compensate. When the decline is sudden or severe, however, such changes are not part of normal aging. They may signal a problem, like an infection, drug interaction or other serious problem. Many of these problems can be treated.

The key for caregivers and family members is to remain alert. Do not dismiss symptoms or changes in an elder’s abilities as inevitable signs of aging. Caring for the elderly requires that we, as caregivers, are always alert.

Mental changes in elders - complaints of memory and confusion are not normal
Certain forgetfullness in the elderly warrants concern. While we all misplace the keys occasionally, some elderly men and women exhibit more unusual behavior. For example, if an elder becomes lost in a familiar place, puts objects away in unusual places (keys in the freezer), forgets to take medication or changes clothes infrequently. Such pronounced forgetfulness, confusion and lapses in judgment that result in obvious difficulty managing daily life are not normal and should be evaluated by the elder’s physician.

A medical problem may be to blame for the elder’s confusion or memory loss. A physician will examine for underlying problems–which could include a mini-stroke, respiratory or urinary tract infection, drug interaction or toxicity, depression or lingering affects of anesthesia–as well as establish a baseline of cognitive functioning so as to evaluate possible future decline, which could indicate a progressing form a dementia. An elder who is not taking their medication or taking incorrect dosages may further increase their confusion or short-term memory loss. This can cause serious problems leading to a downward spiral.

Anxiety and nervousness could be observed in elders struggling with mental changes. Be observant!

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Falls in the elderly - the leading cause of disability and nursing home placement
Accidental falls among elders can be prevented by taking simple safety measures. For example, caregivers should be certain that scatter rugs are secured and all stairways have handrails. But falls also may be the result of conditions that make the elder feel lightheaded or faint, requiring medical diagnosis and treatment. In fact, falling has many possible causes, including heart problems, overuse of sedative, osteoporosis or abuse of alcohol or drugs. Without treatment, the elder is likely to fall again, possibly with severe consequences. Falls are the leading cause of disability for elders and frequently lead to nursing home placement.

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Loss of appetite and weight in aging
An elder who experience appetite changes - in particular, the loss of appetite or interest in eating accompanied by significant weight loss - may face a serious problem. Good nutrition is essential for health at any age and is especially important for elders who may be stressed by illness and lack the reserves that younger people usually have. Caregivers should check the elder’s refrigerator and pantry if you think there may be problem. Is there enough food ? A healthy variety? Do the same items remain on the shelves day after day? Consider if the elder may have pain with eating (caused by indigestion or ill-fitting dentures), or is forgetting to eat. Diminished appetite may indicate pain, worsening heart failure, depression, dementia or the beginnings of pneumonia.

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Elders with unstable medical conditions, too many medications and doctors
An elder who has pain, incontinence, dizziness or loss of functioning may be exhibiting symptoms of serious conditions which may be treatable. Caregivers should never ignore these signals. Take the elder to his or her physician to explore possible causes and treatments. For example, many people dismiss incontinence as an unpleasant result of aging, yet it often has reversible causes, like a urinary tract infection or metabolic abnormality.

Also consider that elders who have multiple medication problems may be attended by more than one physician. At this point, when general medical instability becomes a problem, it is helpful to seek out a geriatrician to act as the elder’s primary care physician. Geriatricians are trained to look at the aging patient as a whole and can coordinate treatment when several specialists are involved. Sometimes treatment for one problem may worsen another and the geriatrician can help caregivers adjust medications so that this difficulty is minimized for the elder.

Premium Members of Seniorlink Online can find additional articles and resources on medical instability in elders, cargiving for elders with health problems, and medication management problems in the elderly.