According to TopLine MD Alliance, 95% of seniors 60 years of age and older have at least one chronic condition.
Managing these conditions requires comprehensive care and support. Sadly, many seniors struggle to access this support at home. They live alone and don’t have anyone to help with medication management.
Chronic disease management programs offer reliable ways to overcome this challenge. Older adults also need to find ways to manage various health complications. Read on to discover effective elderly healthcare strategies.
Education and Self-Management
Older adults can make more informed decisions when they understand their conditions and the necessary steps to manage them. Self-management involves taking control of daily health activities, such as:
- Monitoring symptoms
- Following treatment plans
- Using health tools and trackers
- Keeping medical appointments
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Making lifestyle changes
Seniors need to be educated about their chronic diseases. They need to learn how to recognize early signs of complications and take preventive actions. They must understand how their daily habits affect chronic illnesses and overall health.
Education empowers seniors to communicate more effectively with healthcare professionals and caregivers. Seniors can become better advocates for their own health. They can ask relevant questions and discuss treatment options confidently.
Proper education allows older adults to feel more in control of their conditions and manage day-to-day symptoms. This significantly improves their quality of life. They’ll know how to minimize the risk of complications or emergency hospital visits.
If you have a senior parent, find resources that share chronic disease management tips. Explore these resources with them and encourage them to invest in continuous learning.
Medication Management and Adherence
According to Lown Institute, over 40% of seniors take 5 or more prescription medications, and nearly 20% take 10 or more. Managing all these medications can be overwhelming and confusing. Some seniors have memory or cognitive issues, which complicate medication adherence.
They often forget to take their medication or take more than prescribed. Some fail to follow special instructions, like taking their pills before or after meals. These problems can significantly minimize the medication’s effectiveness.
Besides, mistakes like taking too many pills than prescribed can be dangerous. They can cause severe side effects, which compromise a senior’s health.
Ensuring seniors take the right medications at the right time can mitigate this risk. Medication management involves the following:
- Organizing prescription schedules
- Setting reminders
- Regularly reviewing medications with a healthcare provider
Tools like pill organizers or automated reminders on mobile devices can help seniors keep track of their prescriptions.
Moving to a senior living community can also help older adults with medication management. The community has skilled caregivers who ensure residents take their medications on time.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Nutrition and physical activity are essential components of senior chronic disease care. Older adults should eat a balanced diet of lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Depending on their chronic conditions, they should seek information on foods to eat or avoid.
For instance, seniors with diabetes should eat whole grains, legumes, and leafy greens. They should avoid sugary beverages, refined grains, and fruit juices. The plan is to use diet to regulate their blood sugar, minimizing reliance on medications.
Physical activity, even in small amounts, can boost mobility, reduce chronic pain, and improve cardiovascular health. Senior living communities offer exercise activities tailored for older adults. These activities might include easy outdoor walking, yoga, and dancing.
They also offer various amenities that enhance seniors’ well-being. These amenities can provide distractions from harmful behaviors such as excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
Regular Medical Checkups
Managing chronic illness in seniors requires following up on routine medical appointments. The checkups allow healthcare providers to monitor the progression of diseases and adjust treatment. They make it easy to detect potential emerging health issues early.
During medical appointments, doctors:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of current treatment plans
- Run the necessary tests
- Recommend lifestyle adjustments
- Assess medication effectiveness
- Identify new symptoms or health concerns
- Check for early signs of co-occurring diseases/comorbidities
- Offer education on disease management
These things can have a significant impact on senior chronic disease care. They can minimize the adverse effects of chronic conditions. They can improve a senior’s quality of life and overall wellness.
If you have a senior parent, help them schedule regular medical checkups. If possible, accompany them when going to see the doctor. Keep them accountable by ensuring they never skip a medical appointment.
Mental Health Support
Anxiety, feelings of isolation, and depression are common among older adults dealing with chronic diseases. Most of them feel helpless against the disease. Others are overwhelmed by the fear of living with the disease.
In addition, some chronic issues, such as dementia, directly affect the brain. They make it hard for seniors to decide and live independently. They require mental health support to overcome these challenges.
One way they can get this support is by moving to a senior care community. They should look for a community offering memory care and other mental health support services. The community can also help them find numerous socialization opportunities.
They’ll meet with other seniors with similar chronic conditions. These individuals can provide practical chronic disease management tips. They can motivate them to keep fighting despite having a chronic complication.
Socializing with other seniors can assist them overcome their feelings of isolation and loneliness. They can interact and bond with people who understand and share their pain.
Use Chronic Disease Management Programs to Enhance Your Wellness
As you age, you’re likely to develop several chronic health complications. These diseases can negatively affect the quality of your life. Chronic disease management programs offer ways to overcome these health problems.
However, accessing these programs at home can be challenging. That’s why it can be a smart decision to move to a senior living community. So, search for the best community near you that offers reliable senior care services at friendly rates.
Rittenhouse Village At Northside adopts the best practices for elderly care. Our caregivers are highly trained in memory care and medication management.
Contact us today to schedule a tour of our community in Indianapolis.
