10
most common
healthcare
mistakes made by seniors
While
seniors are living longer, there are still serious health issues,
ranging from arthritis and vision problems to hearing loss and
forgetfulness. In an effort to help seniors better deal with their
health problems, the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA) has
identified the 10 most common mistakes seniors make in caring for their
health.
"Seniors are
enjoying themselves and remaining active much later in life," said
Gloria Mayer, R.N., Ed.D., president and chief executive officer of the
La Habra, Calif.-based IHA. "At the same time, they must take
charge of their healthcare. By identifying the most common errors they
make when caring for their health, we hope to enhance physician/patient
communications, as well as help seniors better understand how the
healthcare system works and what they can do for themselves to stay
healthy."
The 10 most common
mistakes identified are as follows:
1. Driving when it's
no longer safe
Seniors often
associate mobility in a car with their independence, but knowing when it
is time to stop driving is important for the safety of everyone on the
road. Decisions about when to stop driving should be made together with
a family physician because chronological age alone does not determine
someone's fitness to drive.
2. Fighting the
aging process and its appearance
Refusing to wear a
hearing aid, eyeglasses or dentures, reluctant to ask for help, or to
use walking aids are all examples of this type of denial. This behavior
may prevent the senior from obtaining helpful assistance with some of
the problems of aging.
3. Reluctance to
discuss intimate health problems with the doctor or health care provider
Seniors may not want to bring up sexual or urinary difficulties.
Sometimes problems that the senior thinks are trivial, such as stomach
upsets, constipation, or jaw pain, may require further evaluation.
4. Not understanding
what the doctor told them about their health problem or medical
treatment plan
"I could not
understand the doctor," or "He told me what to do, but you
know me, I can't remember what he said" are typical complaints.
Reluctance to ask the doctor to repeat information or to admit that they
do not understand what is being said can result in serious health
consequences.
5. Disregarding the
serious potential for a fall
Falls result in
fractures and painful injuries which sometimes take months to heal. To
help guard against falling, seniors should remove scatter rugs from the
home and have adequate lighting in the home and work areas. They should
wear sturdy and well-fitting shoes. Seniors should watch for slopes and
cracks in sidewalks. Participating in exercise programs to improve
muscle tone and strength is also helpful.
6. Failure to have a
system or a plan for managing medicines
Missed medication
doses can result in inadequate treatment of a medical condition. By
using daily schedules, pill box reminders or check off records, seniors
can avoid missing medication doses. Because health care providers need
to know all of the medicines that a senior is taking, seniors should
maintain a complete list of all their prescription and over-the-counter
medicines, including dose and the reason that the medicine is being
taken.
7. Not having a
single primary care physician who looks at the overall medical plan for
treatment
Health problems may
be overlooked when a senior goes to several different doctors or
treatment programs, and multiple treatment regimens may cause adverse
responses. The patient may be over or under treated if a single
physician is not evaluating the full medical treatment program.
8. Not seeking
medical attention when early possible warning signs occur
Reasons for such
inaction and denial may include lack of money or reduced self worth due
to age. "I am so old it doesn't matter anymore." Of course,
such treatment delays can result in a more advanced stage of illness and
a poorer prognosis.
9. Failure to
participate in prevention programs
Flu and pneumonia
shots and routine breast and prostate exams are examples of readily
available preventive health measures that seniors should utilize to
remain healthy.
10. Not asking loved
ones for help
Many seniors are
simply too stubborn to ask for help, whether due to an understandable
need for independence or because of early signs of dementia. It's
important that elderly people alert family members or other loved ones
to any signs of ill health or unusual feelings so that they can be
assessed before the problem advances.
In an effort to help
older Americans become less fearful of medical conditions and more
empowered about their health, the IHA has published "What To Do For
Senior Health," an easy-to-read and easy-to-understand, self-help
medical book for senior citizens. For more information or to order the
book, call 800-434-4633 or go to www.iha4health.org
and click on the "Bookstore" link.
The Institute for
Healthcare Advancement is a La Habra-based non-profit organization
dedicated to advancing healthcare delivery through the demonstration of
innovative healthcare practices and the education of healthcare
professionals and consumers. The Institute provides healthcare
information through its various publishing efforts, the Internet, and
its renowned local and national education programs. For more
information, please go to www.iha4health.org.
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