You’ve been blessed your entire life to have mom or dad with you this entire time, it’s something you never take for granted.

As your loved one’s age, you start to notice the need to protect them and feel compelled to be by their side as much as possible.

They start to struggle with certain medical conditions which, as their closest confidant, can be tough to see them go through.

Fortunately, there are several medical conditions that medicare can help treat them from! Here are 9 of the most common health concerns that seniors go through which can be aided by health insurance.

1. Arthritis

Unfortunately, this medical condition is almost expected among most Americans as you age. That doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

The biggest thing is to not let it affect your elder’s activity level as much as possible. encourage them to still do as much physical exercise as possible, it will help with their joints.

Consult their doctor as soon as you believe arthritis to be the leading cause of their pain. They can devise a routine that will balance your loved one’s comfortability while still optimizing their longterm health.

2. Malnutrition

There are several factors that can lead to malnutrition in senior citizens such as low income, depression and just simply forgetting to eat consistently (if they suffer from Dementia/Alzheimer’s).

Sadly, this doesn’t get caught too often prior to the health issues it can cause.

A great way to combat this and/or prevent it from happening is to encourage a diet that ups the amount of fruit and veggies. Focus on lowering the amount of salt in their daily eating to prevent higher blood pressure.

If you aren’t in a place to stay as on top of their diet as you’d like to, consult a senior food service or make their nurse/doctor aware of the change.

3. Cancer

One of the best ways to treat cancer is by taking consistent, preventative screenings to monitor your loved one’s health.

The sooner it’s caught, the more likely it is that it can be treated. However, even if it isn’t caught in time, seniors can still have quality in their life with certain treatments.

You’ll have an entire medical staff helping you oversee their health and day-to-day routine, a healthcare plan can help take the edge off of it during this stressful time.

4. Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is one of the most difficult conditions to witness a loved one go through as they age. It’s really tricky to diagnose in the early stages but is vitally important to be aware of as soon as possible for the elder’s safety.

Not only does Alzheimer’s do damage to their memory, but it’s also a monumental threat to their overall safety and health.

From forgetting to eat to getting lost in a place that seems unfamiliar (due to their memory loss), it’s important to keep a watchful eye. Certain medications can help keep it at bay, but some days are going to be better than others.

5. Heart Disease

Old age is one of the highest risk factors associated with heart disease. As the immune system and bodily function decreases, the heart is left vulnerable.

Almost 40-percent of elderly Americans have been diagnosed with some type of heart disease such as a heart attack, coronary heart disease, etc.

Unfortunately, the odds are not in your loved one’s favor. Be sure to set up frequent check-ups with their doctor through the medicare services to keep a watchful eye out for any spike in heart conditions.

6. Oral Health

It’s no secret that as you age, you’ll start to lose some, if not all, of your natural teeth.

However, that’s not all that you should be concerned about, aging also increases your risk of things like mouth cancer, gingivitis, and denture-induced stomatitis.

Be sure to prevent this portion of your senior’s health from being overlooked by scheduling a healthy mixture of appointments to both their doctor and dentist.

7. Addiction

Not many people foresee their elderly family members succumbing to an addiction problem later in life. However, it becomes more and more of a risk with their increased medication intake.

Subscriptions for an injury are a top reason for starting an addiction, but there is also alcoholism and tobacco use to be concerned about as well.

There are many different situations that can lead to substance abuse, and starvation has also been linked to addiction. So a healthy diet is crucial to preventing substance abuse down the line.

8. Depression

Aging is a difficult time for everyone that goes through it. Not only are you unable to do things you’ve spent your whole life doing, but your body’s aches and pains also increase as well.

The bodily pains can lead to a lack of exercise which has been proven to lead to depression down the line.

Increase both physical and social activity for your seniors in order to help them adjust to their new lifestyle.

9. Physical Injury

As seniors age, their bones begin to shrink and their muscles lose density. That makes it a higher risk for severe injury if they ever slip and/or fall.

Helping your elders keep a physical lifestyle will keep their bodies as flexible and responsive as possible.

Also increasing their awareness and setting them up with a safe, level housing situation is integral to lessening the chance of a fall.

Find a Medicare Service That Fits Them Best

Now that you’ve seen the several risks and common elderly conditions, it’s important to get you or your loved one set up with medicare.

Be sure to read this article on the pros and cons of high deductible health plans to find the right fit for your situation.

For more inquiries, please visit our contact us page to schedule an appointment and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you further!

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