More than ever, sleep is a top concern for the older population. A poor night’s sleep can increase risk of falls, reduce overall well-being, and exacerbate other health conditions. Being able to track poor sleep can help elders and caregivers make adjustments in medication, sleep related equipment, and lighting, as needed.
Isolated older adults can develop serious health problems stemming from poor nutrition. Sometimes this can be brought on by the loss of a loved one, new medications, or new health conditions. Without proper nutrition, an elder’s health can deteriorate very quickly, so take some time to check on how your loved one is eating.
To check on well being, Meadows asks a general set of health questions to establish a baseline for how someone’s life is going. A person’s well being measured over time can provide hints to other possible conditions, and also can help show a more complete picture of mood and happiness.
Older adults suffer from regular and constant pain, and treatment for this condition often could be executed better. Keeping track of pain and maintaining an open line of communication to discuss this between elder and caregiver is extremely important. Pain can be a symptom of an underlying condition or simply an aspect of old age, but it should never be ignored.
COVID-19 is part of the new normal for most of the world and has introduced new behaviors in everyone’s life. This condition is especially hazardous for the elderly and can quickly cause permanent harm that may not be treatable by local health systems. It can be easy to slip up and forget that a pandemic is going on, so daily check-ins can help keep track of risk factors.
As we age, our brains tend to slow down and things like memory loss become more common. Occasional forgetting is often not a problem, but regular check-ins can help caregivers discover when memory loss becomes more serious.
Many people today suffer from heart conditions, and small questions asked at regular intervals can help avoid surprises. Simple questions about diet, exercise, and body pain can give elders and their caregivers valuable information about how to best act on a patient’s care plan.
Older adults often develop movement related conditions such as arthritis or balance issues that restrict movement. These conditions can develop rapidly or over a long period of time, and regular check-ins can help a care team to adapt to any changes. Impaired movement can also greatly increase fall risk in older adults.
We enjoy the world through sound, whether it is watching television, talking with loved ones or listening to music. Hearing loss is a condition that is exacerbated by old age, and can be very serious to an elder’s well being if left untreated. Occasional checks for hearing loss can give valuable insight into planning care to help older adults hear as well as they should.
For individuals with diabetes, health monitoring becomes a way of life. As the people with diabetes can no longer handle blood sugar in a normal way, they must carefully track diet, exercise, and blood glucose levels. Communicating this information to a caregiver adds an extra level of accountability that can result in longer lives and better outcomes for people with diabetes.
While depression may be incredibly common, it should not be treated lightly or ignored. Depression can affect the elderly quite seriously, and isolated older adults are at an increased risk of developing depression. Everyone may have a different path through depression, but increased information can help both the elder and their care team through the healing process.
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