Geriatric healthcare concerns include dementia, diabetes, falls, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, impaired vision and hearing, depression, memory loss, and nutrition. Proper management and care can improve the quality of life for older adults.
As people age, their health often becomes fragile, so clinicians treating geriatric patients face a variety of concerns for older adults. A major concern in geriatric health is dementia, which can have a serious impact on a patient’s cognitive abilities. Learning to manage early onset dementia can help improve an older person’s quality of life. An increased risk of type II diabetes is another geriatric health concern. Serious injuries from falls are a common occurrence in the elderly and a major concern in geriatric health.
Maintaining geriatric health is vital as we age. Health problems and concerns can vary with the individual, although many older individuals share a common ailment: arthritis. Inflammatory joint conditions can be extremely painful and debilitating. Coping with arthritis is especially challenging for the elderly, as it can threaten their independence and quality of life.
Geriatric healthcare often involves treating patients with cardiovascular disease. The risk of coronary heart disease increases with age. Factors such as poor diet and obesity in elderly patients can contribute to heart problems.
Impaired vision is another major concern in geriatric health. Vision problems or even blindness can result as complications of diabetes. Older adults are more likely to develop these complications if their diabetes is not properly managed.
The effects of aging can also contribute to hearing loss. That’s why it’s more common for older adults to rely on the use of hearing aids. Other treatment options, such as cochlear implants, can help elderly patients with hearing loss.
Addressing mental health issues can be a key part of geriatric care. Many older people suffer from depression, mainly due to a lack of social interaction. Feelings of isolation can occur when an older person is housebound. In extreme cases of depression, suicide among the elderly is a concern.
Other mental health problems in geriatric medicine are memory loss and dementia. Cognitive reasoning can be impaired due to dementia due to aging. Advanced dementia can cause symptoms such as delusions and hysteria. Alzheimer’s disease can range from mild to advanced and generally requires treatment such as medications and cognitive therapy.
Nutrition is a major concern for many seniors. In many cases, an older person who lives alone or is housebound may not receive adequate nutrition. Lack of proper nutrition can also be due to inability to cook yourself. Providing home care for an elderly person who cannot look after himself can be a solution.
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