Top 20 Plus most common elderly diseases with solutions

At certain ages, mainly after retirement, most common elderly diseases people begin to worry more and more frequently about their state of health.

Why do common elderly diseases suffer more illnesses?

As the years go by, the metabolism and the body’s response to diseases are not the same as before. Muscles, skin, bones, and even the cognitive system are affected and lose strength and resistance. This causes one not to be sufficiently prepared to face certain activities or pathologies.

This whole set of situations is what causes elderly people to be considered a risk group. That is why it is so important to care about the care and well-being of the elderly.

How to maintain good health in old age

As we grow we must be aware that our rhythm must change. To add years in the best possible way, we must be clear about different points such as diet, exercise, family life, and, above all, not forgetting the advice of experts. If you add all that, old age will be a good stage.

Nutrition: 

Good nutrition is the basis for good health. We must take more care of the type of food we eat, reducing the consumption of fats and sugars and prioritizing the consumption of legumes, vegetables, dairy products, fish, and fruit.

Exercise:

Practicing sports in old age is essential to ensure your well-being and good health. It has numerous benefits, promoting the strengthening of muscles and bones; and preventing the appearance of physical diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, or even mental disorders, such as anxiety.

Family life:

Social relationships give a lot of life to older people since they increasingly find themselves alone and without anyone around. That is why, at that moment, is when we should be closer and relate more to them. 

Expert advice:

an early diagnosis goes from being a recommendation to something vital and this is the key. With the wear and tear of the body, chronic diseases, reduced mobility, or loss of cognitive faculties, it is essential to adopt a periodic visit to the doctor as a preventive measure so that they are kept under control and treatment can be applied as soon as possible. fast as possible.

Top 20 Plus most common elderly diseases with solutions

Walking is the best solution for common elderly diseases: Walking is the best solution for most people and especially for older people who do not do any type of physical exercise walking is a great solution for sedentary people, comfortable shoes and will are all that is needed for this practice that prevents diseases and carries so few risks.

Read more: Treadmill for walking exercise

Excuses, bad advisors:

Elderly people who are reluctant to practice any sport always have arguments to reject any suggestion made to them in this regard. They assure that they do not need to exercise and that the hustle and bustle of their daily lives is enough, many of these sedentary older people do not even recognize that walking is the cheapest and least risky sport and the one that provides the greatest benefits for their health.

Multiple health benefits for common elderly diseases:

A 30-minute walk for 3 or 4 days a week is enough to improve physical condition, delay aging, and prevent diseases. Not only physical ones such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, or being overweight, but also mental disorders.

With walks you can combat depression, another of the benefits that walking provides is relaxing the mind, with it you can control the risk factors for emotional balance, and it is an alternative to neutralize these situations.

For sedentary older people who do not want to do any physical activity, there are some alternatives: prefer traditional stairs to escalators or the elevator, park the car far from our destination, and do everything we can by ourselves without help, although it is true Since this alone is not enough, a little more effort must be requested.

The objective of walking is none other than to consume calories, avoid being overweight, keep joints in shape, and maintain emotional balance, in this way, you will achieve excellent physical shape.

1. Respiratory diseases in the elderly

Chronic most common elderly diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are the third leading cause of death for people over 65 years of age. More than 10% of men over 65 and more than 13% of women over 65 have asthma, and 10% of men and 11% of women have chronic bronchitis or emphysema.

Chronic respiratory diseases increase death rates in older people, making them vulnerable to pneumonia and other lung infections.

Performing respiratory checkups, taking the correct medication, and inhaling oxygen will help prevent the elderly’s health and quality of life.

2. Hearing and visual problems

With aging, some senses gradually deteriorate, especially sight and hearing.

In the case of hearing impairment associated with old age, we find presbycusis, caused by the loss of hair cells in the inner ear which is considered the third most prevalent chronic disease in older people, only behind high blood pressure and arthritis.

In the case of vision, the muscles that focus the eye become weaker and lose the ability to focus on small objects and distinguish details, which is called presbyopia, a situation present in almost 80% of the population over 45. Other eye diseases that more frequently affect older people are glaucoma, cataracts, and retinopathies.

3. Fibromyalgia in older people

Fibromyalgia is characterized by generalized musculoskeletal pain, as it consists of an abnormality in pain perception, such that stimuli should not be perceived as painful.

In addition to pain, fibromyalgia can cause generalized stiffness, a feeling of swelling, and tingling in the extremities.

4. Urinary incontinence in elderly male

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine that occurs due to a lack of bladder control, a disease that is estimated to affect 6.5 million people in Spain, mostly elderly and/or dependent people.

Leaking urine without knowing it:

Urinary incontinence in the elderly is the loss of bladder control, meaning that we cannot control urine. Urinary incontinence can be a small amount of urine leakage or an urge to urinate that is difficult to control.

Urinary incontinence is more common in those over 50 years of age, but it can also affect younger people. Whenever we have this problem we should go to the doctor, since hiding incontinence can trigger other more serious problems in our health, such as rashes, sores, skin infections, and even urinary tract infections.

Different types of incontinence in the elderly

Read more: Falls in the Elderly: Causes, prevention, foods

There are 5 types of urinary incontinence in the common elderly diseases

Stress incontinence:

Stress incontinence in the elderly occurs when you leak urine due to pressure on the muscles of the lower abdomen. This incontinence usually occurs when the pelvic muscles weaken. It is very common in women.

Urge incontinence

This incontinence occurs when the need to urinate comes very suddenly, often before reaching the bathroom. This incontinence is more common in older people and can be a sign of a urinary tract infection or overactive bladder.

Overflow incontinence

This incontinence is the uncontrollable leakage of small amounts of urine. It is caused by a very full bladder, you may not be able to empty the bladder and may strain when urinating, this often occurs in men and can be caused by something that obstructs the flow of urine, such as urine. enlarged prostate or tumor. Diabetes can also cause this problem as can some medications.

Read more: diabetic foot ulcer treatment, causes, risk, tips and more

Functional incontinence:

This type occurs when you control your urine normally but have trouble getting to the bathroom on time.

Mixed incontinence:

This type comprises more than one of the aforementioned types of incontinence.

Is urinary incontinence just part of aging?

Not really, but changes due to age can reduce the amount of urine the bladder can hold. Aging can weaken your urine stream and make you feel more urgent to urinate, which doesn’t mean you have urinary incontinence just because you’re getting older.

Causes of urinary incontinence in elderly male

Urinary incontinence in the elderly can be caused by many different medical problems:

Urinary incontinence in the elderly can be treated depending on the cause of the problem and the type of incontinence, bladder training helps with some types of incontinence, and medications, and surgery are other options.

5. Back pain or cervicalgia and low back pain

80% of the population suffers from back pain at some point in their lives, with low back pain being the most common, the causes of which can be very varied: sciatica, muscle contractures, herniated discs…

Secondly, we find neck or cervical pain, which is suffered by between 30 and 40% of people at some point in their lives and whose main causes are muscle contractures, torticollis, and, as age increases, osteoarthritis due to wear and tear of the cervical vertebrae.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol (main causes of heart attacks and strokes)

It is estimated that more than half of Spaniards over 55 years of age suffer from high blood pressure, a figure that rises to 88% in those over 75 years of age.

High blood pressure values ​​in the elderly are a problem that is behind 45% of deaths due to heart disease and 51% due to stroke.

High cholesterol is another of the main risk factors for atherosclerosis, the main cause of angina, myocardial infarctions, and strokes.

6. Arthritis is the most common elderly diseases

Arthritis is probably the most common disease for people over 65 years of age. It is estimated to affect 49.7 percent of all adults over 65 years of age and can cause pain and decrease the quality of life of seniors. Although arthritis can discourage you from being active, it is important to work with your doctor to develop a personalized activity plan that, along with other treatments, can help maintain senior health.

How to treat arthritis and osteoarthritis?

In both arthritis and osteoarthritis,  resting the joint is key. In the case of arthritis, if there is an infection, antibiotics should be used. On the other hand,  osteoarthritis has no cure, so treatments seek to reduce pain and improve mobility and function of the joint. In both diseases, it is vital to avoid obesity and perform physical exercise.

7. Heart Diseases in the elderly

Heart problems continue to be the main cause of death for people over 65 years of age. Heart disease affects 37% of men and 26% of women over 65 years of age. As people age, risk factors increase, high blood pressure and cholesterol, increasing the chances of having a stroke or developing heart disease. «Exercise, eat well (in a way that allows you to maintain a healthy weight with a balanced and healthy diet) and rest. «. They are the main advice to reduce this high health risk, not only to prevent heart disease but also to improve health in all areas.

Heart attack in the most common elderly diseases:

There are different types of heart attacks, the most common being myocardial infarction. It is usually initiated by incipient pain in the chest and arms. Accompanied by respiratory distress, nausea, or dizziness.

How are solutions for heart problems?

• Be more physically active
• Stop smoking as it is the main cause of preventable deaths
• Eat a heart-healthy diet
• Maintain a healthy weight and manage diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol

8. Cancer in the elderly

Cancer is the second cause of death among people over 65 years of age. 28% of men and 21% of women over 65 years of age can suffer from cancer. If detected early through examinations, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and skin checks, it can be prevented. Although it cannot always be prevented, you can try to improve the quality of life of an elderly cancer patient, even during treatment, working with their medical team, and maintaining their healthy recommendations for the elderly.

9. Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly

Alzheimer’s is the most common elderly diseases. 11% of people over 65 years of age suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Experts recognize that cognitive impairment has a significant impact on the health of the elderly in all aspects, from issues of safety, care, and price of treatments and caregivers, whether at home or in a residential facility.

How to treat Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s disease is complex and therefore it is unlikely that any one drug or other intervention will successfully solve it in all people who have this disease. 

As the disease progresses, this problem becomes more frequent and with more common terms. This makes it difficult to interact and deal with the person with Alzheimer’s, whose verbal expression will become increasingly confusing. Another consequence of Alzheimer’s is that it alters the ability to organize thought and express it in an orderly and coherent manner. 

This is why we must help a person with Alzheimer’s to express themselves by avoiding asking too open questions. Another way can be by giving response options.

10. Osteoporosis in the elderly

Osteoporosis is a very common elderly diseases among the elderly and is a major health problem in the population as it can cause falls and fractures that can lead to a poor quality of life. As a person ages, the greater the likelihood of contracting this disease; and, although it is much more common in women than in men, the number of male population suffering from it is increasing more and more.

Treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly

The main objective of osteoporosis treatment and solutions is to reduce the number of fractures and for the bones to withstand the different daily loads. As a general measure, a series of habits are recommended:

11. Diabetes is the most common elderly diseases

25% of people over 65 years of age suffer from diabetes, with a high health risk. Diabetes can be identified and treated early with a simple blood test. The sooner diabetes is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin to improve the elderly’s long-term health.

DIABETES IN THE ELDERLY:

Their characteristics are:

Symptoms of diabetes in the elderly:

Diagnosis of diabetes:

• The appearance of the above symptoms
• Acute complication, with loss of consciousness
• Occurrence of a vascular complication
• Fortuitously, due to a blood test carried out for another reason

How to treat diabetes in older adults?

Each case is different and, therefore, great care must be taken when treating it. Even so, we must be clear and forceful when it comes to taking care of ourselves:

How to take care of diabetes in the elderly

It is the most common elderly diseases with solutions for older people, diet and exercise are generally enough. If you are overweight you should lose weight and eat a balanced diet. You should do physical exercise according to your needs. Have good body and mouth hygiene. Foot care is also very important. You may also need treatment with oral antidiabetics and sometimes inject insulin. Always carry a sugar cube with you.

Remember that treatment must be constant, follow medical advice, and control your blood pressure, and cholesterol… Tobacco is harmful so it would be preferable to quit.

12. Flu and pneumonia in the elderly

Although flu and pneumonia are not chronic diseases, they are the eighth cause of illness in people over 65 years of age. The elderly, like children, are more prone to these diseases and have less ability to combat them.

To prevent flu and pneumonia in the elderly, it is recommended that they be vaccinated against these diseases once a year (Always by medical prescription), to prevent these infections and their complications.

13. Falls are one of the most common elderly diseases

The risk of falls requiring emergency care increases with age. Each year, 2.5 million people ages 65 and older are treated in emergency departments due to falls, according to the CDC.

That’s more than any other age group. And, one-third of people who go to the emergency room for a fall may find themselves there again within a year, according to a study published in August 2015 in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.

Also keep in mind that most falls occur at home, where trip hazards include area rugs and slippery bathroom floors, according to a study published in January 2013 in the Journal of Injury and Violence Research.

14. Alcohol and Tobacco in the elderly

One in five people over the age of 65 have had problems with substance or alcohol abuse at some point in their lives.

The abuse of substances such as tobacco and alcohol increases the risk of falls and neuropathy.

15. Obesity is one of the most common diseases in the elderly

Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. As weight increases, the risk of suffering from chronic diseases that affect the quality of life of the elderly increases. 36.2% of men between 65 and 74 years old are obese and 40.7% of women are obese. This may be due to poor diet or lack of activity.

16. Oral health in the most common elderly diseases

Healthy teeth and gums are important not only for a beautiful, eating-correct smile but also for overall health. 25 percent of seniors over 65 do not have natural teeth. As you age, your mouth tends to dry out and tooth loss is harder to prevent, so proper oral health, including regular dental checkups, should be a priority for seniors.

17. Herpes in the elderly

Do you remember that attack of chickenpox you had as a child? It can come back as Herpes when you are an adult. According to the US National Institutes of Health, one in three people over the age of 60 will have shingles, and 50 percent will have it before they turn 80. It usually affects only one side of the body, beginning with severe pain and tingling. to develop into a rash and possibly blisters.

There is a vaccine available, so talk to your doctor about it.

18. Parkinson’s in the elderly

But there are other diseases that cause progressive dementia linked to age, such as Parkinson’s, another of the most common neurodegenerative diseases that in this case affects the nervous system and therefore movement, and which is suffered.

How to treat Parkinson’s?

If its causes are still unknown, the cure is not known either, but we have medications that help control the symptoms. Some of the solutions are consistent aerobic exercises, physical therapy that focuses on balance and stretching is also important.

19. Poverty, is the cause of the most common elderly diseases

In 2013, 45 percent of adults age 65 and older had incomes below the poverty level. Older women are slightly more likely than men to live in poverty, this amount increases in those over 80 years of age. Poverty affects senior health if the senior cannot afford a caregiver, healthy food, medications, or other essential senior health care needs.

20. Sleep disorders

It is the most common elderly diseases that often causes changes in their sleep cycle with lighter and shallower sleep than younger people.  Even so,  a healthy person over 70 years old can wake up many times during the night, without any illness or sleep disorder.

SELF-ESTEEM IN THE ELDERLY:

How to strengthen self-esteem in old age:

Old age is a very difficult stage for self-esteem. People are seeing how their physical and mental capacities are decreasing. At the same time, they observe how their social contacts are disappearing, either due to the death of some of their acquaintances, due to their inability to maintain the previous rhythm of life, or because their relatives ignore them. In this article, we guide you on how to enhance self-esteem in the elderly.

In this context, it should not surprise us that self-esteem suffers serious damage and that many of them experience severe depression. To improve the self-esteem and quality of life of elderly people, the following points should be taken into account:

We must take into account enhancing their capabilities and autonomy:

Many people treat their elderly relatives as if they were invalids, they do not allow them to do anything, they give them everything… This prevents them from continuing to be autonomous and accelerates their degeneration. They should continue to have responsibilities that are within their reach. This will make them continue to feel useful and improve their self-esteem.

Respect their opinions:

Especially on issues that directly concern him. The fact that he is older does not mean that he cannot decide what he wants to do with his life.

Help him stay active:

both physically and mentally. Activities as simple as taking a walk, having a conversation, or doing hobbies can prevent degeneration.

Promote your social relationships:

Help him not to withdraw into himself. There are centers where you can interact. You can also make him feel integrated into the family by having him intervene in conversations, and listening to his advice… This will make him feel accepted and loved and his self-esteem will increase.

How to treat sleep problems?

The main treatment is to maintain a healthy and active life with good sleeping habits. To establish the appropriate treatment, the most important thing is to know what problem causes the sleep disorder:

Living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to avoid sleep disorders in the elderly. It is very important to control these types of situations so that health is the best.

21. Strokein the most common elderly diseases

Stroke (cerebrovascular disease) is, without a doubt, one of the most common diseases in the elderly. Its origin lies in the obstruction or rupture of a blood vessel responsible for carrying blood to the brain. This reduces blood flow to the brain and nerve cells stop functioning.

Also known as cerebral infarction, the most common symptoms when a person suffers a stroke are tingling on some side of the body or face, loss of speech, difficulty in vision, and loss of coordination, as well as headache.

22. Depression in the elderly

It is the most common elderly disease. 15 to 20 percent of Americans over 65 have experienced depression.

Depression in the elderly is a threat to the health of the elderly. Depression can lower the immune system, making it difficult for the elderly person to fight infections. In addition to pharmacological treatment and therapy, other actions that can improve the life of the elderly are to increase physical activity, interact socially, and enjoy moments with family and friends.

OLDER ADULTS, ALWAYS DEPRESSED?

Is depression common in the elderly? When we talk about depression, we must keep in mind that we are talking about a disorder of the first order within the diseases that preferably afflict older people.

Older adults, always depressed? How can we avoid it?

When this happens, special attention must be paid to the problem as well as going to experts if treatment is needed to improve the quality of life of those who suffer from this disorder.

Symptoms of depression in the elderly can manifest themselves with both mental and physical symptoms. Among the first, there are affective ones that manifest themselves with altered mood with depressed mood, sadness in life, or loss of interest in things.

In depression there are also bodily or somatic symptoms, the most frequent being sleep disturbances, weight loss, and lack of energy.

How to encourage an elderly person

In old age, due to a series of factors, such as physical functional deterioration and loss of autonomy, the presence of chronic diseases, and the loss of loved ones, among others, contribute to a change in the way of being and being of the elderly.

Despite this, it must be clarified that aging is not synonymous with depression. We must not confuse natural aging, since not all elderly people are depressed but rather there are normal changes in each age period.

That our elders age well can be a perfect opportunity to be grateful for everything they did years before. If we can help them by knowing how to do it and with a positive attitude, this process will be more bearable for both parties.

At Montesalud Senior Center we recommend that all those family members who are more disoriented go to a psychologist to receive support and advice on how to help an older person. It is essential to be by their side acting normally, since, from experience, a show of affection and a few words of love are the best medicine.

In the same way, if they have the support and help of another person who, for example, monitors the times at which they take their medication, go out for a walk, visit people, take care of a task, etc. It is vital to remind him that he is loved.

Motivational activities

Motivation is one of the most important aspects to promote so that the elderly can regain vitality and maintain interest in life’s goals. For example, it is interesting to maintain hobbies as well as stay active with some physical activity.

Good for breaking physical and psychological barriers. Health and well-being should be a priority to encourage an elderly person. Another key to motivating is to make the elderly person the main element of the activity.

Therefore, it is important that each challenge is personalized and participatory with activities that are fun, that can be carried out, and in which there is a certain autonomy.

Other alternative activities may be focused on sharing time with family or people from your familiar environment. Therefore, the personal experience of each person is important when sharing memories and dreams to promote the psychological aspect.

In summary, at Montesalud, we want to banish the false myth that all elderly people have depression. It is about knowing what happens at this stage of life to help the elderly cheer up and maintain a positive spirit.

This can be achieved with the help of family members and some activities that help motivate the elderly and promote active and healthy aging:

Maintain or recover hobbies: an activity or hobby already forgotten and adapted to each personal situation.

Develop educational activities to help and maintain mental development.

Practice physical activity: 

Taking into account physical health, all activity helps to improve the state of well-being.

Share time with family and foster social relationships.

Give up unhealthy habits, such as tobacco, and promote healthy eating without leaving aside gastronomic whims.

Sign up for all types of social and cultural activities that interest you.

Carry out artistic tasks that help improve creativity and stimulate the imagination.

Promote expressiveness through reading and writing.

Organize talks of thematic interest, to promote relationships and share impressions.

One of the main important factors when it comes to preventing a depressive state in some seniors is that they are in a pleasant environment and, if possible, surrounded by nature, such as in the Montesalud facilities.

Cognitive impairment in the most common elderly diseases with solutions

We have all heard our grandparents, or perhaps an elderly person, tell us: “You will also reach my age, you will be like me.” Yes, it is a reality, as we advance in life, we grow older, and therefore, we leave many capabilities behind. In this article, we want to talk to you about cognitive decline, a human capacity that is diminished when we reach old age.

Lapses of small memory loss, some lack of attention, or even the person’s own disorientation. These are some of the most common symptoms of cognitive decline in the elderly.

It should be noted that not everyone suffers from this limitation equally. Generally, the highest percentage of cases occur in people over 65 years of age, who experience daily episodes of forgetting names or simply carrying out their daily tasks

Cognitive impairment. Symptoms and signs:

Brain aging is increasing, this is because the life expectancy of the population is also increasing. Today, we live with very common diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. We do not have a cure for any of them, but there are technological advances for their treatment. For this reason, it is very important to know how to identify when an older person begins to have mild cognitive impairment.

The first signs of cognitive problems may be:

• Frequently forgetting tasks that are performed daily.
• Not remembering specific dates or important events.
• Going blank in the middle of a conversation, or mixing up words.
• Get overwhelmed in making decisions, and delegate them.
• Not understanding steps to follow, guidelines, or instructions about something.
• Losing orientation in time or familiar environments.
• The family begins to notice that something is not right.

Causes of mild cognitive impairment:

It is difficult to identify a single cause in the progression of cognitive deterioration in the elderly. Like, we cannot establish a single diagnosis of this disease.

This disorder occurs differently depending on the patient, that is, some people remain with the same symptoms for years, while others improve somewhat over time, or on the contrary, progress very quickly.

Numerous studies support that cognitive deterioration in the elderly almost always develops from the same brain signs. The brain changes, and these have been studied in autopsies. Some of the changes we are referring to may be:

*Abnormal masses of amyloid beta proteins (plaques) and microscopic masses of proteins typical of Alzheimer’s disease (tangles).

*Lewy bodies, which are microscopic masses of another protein associated with Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and some cases of Alzheimer’s disease.

*Small strokes or reduced blood flow through the blood vessels of the brain.

Additionally, brain imaging studies show that the following changes may be associated with cognitive decline in older people:

*Dilation of the fluid-filled spaces of the brain (ventricles).

*Shrinkage of the hippocampus (a brain region important for memory).

*Reduced use of glucose (the sugar that is the main source of energy for cells) in key regions of the brain.

Risk factors with common elderly disease

Some of the most important risk factors for cognitive decline may be advanced age. In addition to having a specific form of the gene known as APOE e4, also linked to Alzheimer’s disease, although this does not guarantee that you will not suffer some type of cognitive impairment.

We cannot forget that there are related diseases or even unhealthy lifestyles that increase the risk of suffering cognitive changes. Which are?

• *Smoking.
• *Diabetes.
• *The Depression.
• *High blood pressure.
• *High cholesterol.
• *Alcohol or harmful substances.
• *An unhealthy diet (obesity or eating disorders).
• *Do not exercise the mind with cognitive activities.
• *Lack of physical activity.

How to prevent cognitive decline in older adults?

Knowing how to prevent cognitive deterioration, or rather delay it, will depend on the quality of life that the elderly person in question has had. We talk about habits, food, routines, care, etc. Next, we want to help you with some recommendations:

*Eat a healthy and balanced diet. The Mediterranean diet is full of nutrients and minerals, so we must make the most of it. 

*Avoid the consumption of stimulant drinks or substances. Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, since it has been proven that their consumption affects cognitive activity.

*Cardiovascular risk, that is, diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypercholesterolemia promote brain and cardiovascular accidents. Controlling these diseases with medical help is an excellent way to prevent cognitive decline.

*Play sports, walk, or run, but the essential thing is to stay physically active.

*Have hobbies or some social activity, this will avoid possible states of loneliness or depression. Helping in turn cognitive abilities.

*Avoid demanding situations that promote stress and anxiety. Meditation, pilates, or yoga are activities that promote inner tranquility and improve cognitive functioning.

If you have come this far, we hope that our recommendations on how to prevent cognitive decline in the elderly have been helpful to you. Remember, it is essential to have healthy habits, stay mentally active, and lead a quiet life surrounded by family and friends.

Mental exercises for common elderly diseases

Our brain is a muscle like any other in our body. You need to exercise to be healthy and in perfect condition. The passage of time is one of the factors that, without a doubt, most affect our gray matter. The wear and tear on both the physical and neurological levels of our brain over time can cause memory failures. That said, from Clínica Humana we want to explain some exercises to exercise memory in older people.

Without a doubt, the passage of time is the key factor when we talk about memory loss. This occurs especially in older people who end up deteriorating the muscles in their heads.  Of course, we must mention that not only age is the only cause of memory loss, certain diseases or bad habits can also harm the functioning of our brains.

The brain, like any other part of the body, has to be exercised and stimulated to achieve a greater probability of achieving a healthier state. Without a doubt, the best thing to do is to start exercising our gray matter with the exercises that we are going to present to you below.

Sensory activities to exercise memory:

One of the best exercises that we can propose to do with older people is those that promote sensory stimulation. These exercises are certainly stimulating and work wonders both to keep the brain active and to slow down the deterioration of cognitive skills.

If we put into practice exercises and sensory activities to exercise our memory, we will make our elders much more active. Not to mention that thanks to these exercises we will also be able to improve the self-esteem of older people. Thanks to these exercises we will be able to strengthen our autonomy and we will also be able to strengthen our relationship with these older people.

We must try to stimulate our elders with both memory exercises for their brains and physical exercises for their bodies. At Clínica Humana we are experts and we can help you create a plan for both people with poor memory and people with reduced mobility.

It is interesting that these activities stimulate all the senses or that they do so one by one. For example,  if we want to exercise their hearing,  it is a good idea to play games or activities playing songs from their time and have them try to guess them. This game can also be done with familiar sounds, animal sounds, etc.

To exercise taste, blind tastings are a good example of sensory activity. When adults try to guess what they are trying blindly, or when they try to find all the flavors and ingredients in a meal, will activate taste, and therefore, the brain will start working.

Last but not least,  to exercise touch there is nothing like crafts. Just as if it were a class of children. Offering activities such as clay, plasticine models, origami, etc. is a fantastic way to prepare sensory activities that will help them with their memory.

Activities recommended for common elderly diseases

The arrival of a certain age has long ceased to be linked to inactivity. In these times and after retirement, it is time to do everything that time allows, and it is proven that active aging habits have a beneficial impact on health. But why opt when there is so much to do?

The fundamental thing is to keep body and mind alive, in balance, and to the extent possible, aware of the limitations but always betting on everything that gives us greater social relationships, fun, entertainment, well-being, and, ultimately, quality of life.

What is active aging?

The WHO already defined active aging in the 90s as the process that consists of making the most of opportunities to have physical, mental, and social well-being throughout life, so it is time to look for what to dedicate the best stage of your life to. life.

Exercises and activities for older adults:

You must keep in mind that your body is as important as your mind: health is maintained by taking care of both parts of life, as well as your social relationships. Therefore, we offer you some examples of activities of all kinds:

Read more: Exercise elliptical machines

Crafts, sewing, and painting:

All activities that focus on hands help improve motor skills. In addition, they help concentrate the activity on the skill and focus attention on a specific point, with marked short and long-term objectives that even help your routine.

Make bracelets, necklaces, beaded earrings; paint on canvas, fabric, tile; make macramé, bobbins, cross stitch… everything helps your visual acuity and keeps your mental abilities in absolute shape.

Reading:

Reading, cinema, and all the arts are food for the head but also for the soul. It is time to take care of yourself in all aspects, and going out and signing up for reading workshops can be very rewarding.

Mental games for common elderly diseases

Riddles, puzzles, chained words, crossword puzzles or sudokus, hobbies, are essential at any age to train the brain, a very important part of health. Increasing the difficulty, testing yourself, and combining tactile with mental effort are also good exercises for the brain.

Physical exercise:

All moderate activities will be a stimulus for your body. Swimming, Aquagym or walking will keep you in shape and your body will notice it. In addition, the release of endorphins when doing physical exercise will have a positive effect on your mood.

Of course, we must also take advantage of the practice of exercise with the openness to new social relationships and contact with nature. Leaving your comfort zone will be an act of courage, of trying new things, and of showing that age is just a number.

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Why is active aging important?

The question could be ignored, but the changes that many bodies experience as they age affect all areas. Cognitive and physical deterioration is a natural and objective fact, but it is in our hands to stop it, alleviate it as much as possible, and understand that capabilities can decline at any time in life, not just when you turn old.

It is vital that it does not affect character and that values ​​such as introversion, selfishness or individualism, hypochondriacal attitudes, or indifference take over a person who, with all certainty, has never experienced those feelings.

Mental and physical activity will help you keep the best part of your character more alive than ever. At Montesalud Senior Center we care about your health in any area, with activities within our facilities adapted to each patient, so that it truly is one of the best stages of their life.

Technical aids for common elderly disease

Technical aids for older people are devices that facilitate the performance of tasks that a person cannot do alone when they have a mobility deficiency.

The most common technical aids are those indicated for the person’s mobility and are ideal for allowing ambulation and the most used are the wheelchair, the walker, the cane, and the crutches. These will always be prescribed by a doctor at the appropriate time since the person must meet minimum conditions to be able to use them.

Canes and Crutches:

Canes and crutches serve to facilitate walking and increase stability thus reducing the load on the extremities.

They are the simplest aids to help with ambulation, which is why they are also the most forgotten in the early care of people who need this type of help. In fact, many people discard them because they are seen as a sign of weakness.

Crutches are indicated for trauma to the forearms and elbows with stiffness, painful or traumatized wrists, and paralysis of the triceps brachii or hands, however, they are contraindicated in injuries to the shoulders due to the tension they cause in their structure.

Walkers:

The technical aid of the walker for the elderly helps to walk, manipulated by the arms, there are 2 types, those with wheels to facilitate movement and those without, in both cases different devices can be adapted to support the elderly. the forearms or different types of handles.

The wheelchair for common elderly diseases:

The wheelchair is a technical aid for the elderly that is used for the movement of people with less mobility or motor disorders.

We can conclude by saying that technical aids are a good solution for people who for some reason cannot carry out the basic activities of daily living on their own.

How can we prevent old age diseases?

At these ages, the chances of suffering from hypertension, anemia, and diabetes are more frequent, which is why we must take extreme precautions and eat a balanced and healthy diet in addition to paying attention to the exercise we practice.

The following tips can help us have good health for common elderly diseases:

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Factors that affect health and dependency in the elderly:

Physical:

Not being able to perform our bodily and basic functions of daily life, we need to depend on other people.

Economic:

We become dependent members of other people, either due to lack or loss of physical autonomy. psychic or intellectual.

Mental:

We can lose the ability to make our own decisions. Health in old age will be conditioned by the habits we have followed in our daily lives.

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