Nowadays, various media have increased the knowledge and enthusiasm of the elderly in self-care. Medical technology used in treating infectious diseases has also improved compared to before. For this reason, Phyathai 2 Hospital is prepared to create a quality elderly society that can help themselves and engage in activities they enjoy.
How to start a health check-up for the elderly?
“Elderly” refers to those aged 60 and above. If you don’t know how to start a health check-up, the Health Promotion Department at Phyathai 2 Hospital conducts risk factor assessments before the health check-up based on detailed evaluation results.
- Assessment from general physical examination includes checking weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, hearing and vision tests, memory and mood evaluation (elderly people often suffer from depression), osteoporosis screening, and assessing walking and balance to determine the risk of falls.
- Assessment of the elderly’s lifestyle such as smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, eating habits, exercise, driving, and for some elderly who take multiple medications regularly, which may cause some side effects.
- Assessment of genetic disease risks such as diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, gout, thyroid disease, and certain types of cancer.
“Cancer” – another serious disease that worries the elderly
Early cancer screening in the elderly is recommended by doctors for those likely to live more than 5–10 years because early cancer treatment benefits elderly patients who are expected to live longer. The cancers that benefit from early detection include those that respond well to early treatment, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer.
“Some diseases in the elderly, such as vascular diseases, if you wait for symptoms to appear, it means the coronary arteries are already narrowed, the heart muscle is ischemic, or there is already paralysis or stroke. Therefore, elderly people should come for health check-ups to identify risk factors because waiting for symptoms may be too late.”
3 Principles of Self-Care for the Elderly
- Food Elderly people should avoid eating food that is too sweet, oily, or salty. Emphasize eating vegetables, fruits, fiber, and whole grains.
- Exercise Elderly people can do light exercise according to their ability, such as brisk walking for 30 minutes a day or practicing Tai Chi to stretch muscles.
- Emotion Elderly people should maintain a good mood and cheerful mind. They can choose activities they like and are interested in but should not forget to keep their body strong because good health leads to a good mind.
Health check-ups for the elderly… more important than you think
Health check-ups help elderly people have a better quality of life and live longer. Those aged 60 and above should have a health check-up at least once. If the first evaluation shows no problems, the elderly can take care of themselves at home or return for a check-up within 6 months to 1 year. However, if any health issues are found, they can be promptly addressed.
