By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Here Are Top 3 Health Concerns of Aging Parents
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > Here Are Top 3 Health Concerns of Aging Parents
Health careWellness

Here Are Top 3 Health Concerns of Aging Parents

Suzanne Wincheter
Last updated: August 27, 2018 9:50 pm
Suzanne Wincheter
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
Limited nutritional intake due to poor oral healthArthritis and a general decline in mobilityMemory loss and its effects on health

With life expectancy on the rise around the world, this means good news for us and our parents. We can expect better healthcare and medical advances that were not available to past generations. The key, however, to enjoying good health for as long as possible lies in making use of these medical innovations.

As the grown child of an aging parent, it might be difficult to know what to address in regard to their health. Knowing common health issues of the elderly is a good place to start.

Learn about the following 3 areas and evaluate them against the health of your parents.

More Read

5 Reasons Why Dementia Is Increasing In Older Adults And What Can Physicians Do About It
Dealing Effectively with Shift Changes and Patient Handoffs
11 Healthy ways to put your body into shape
Most Medical Decisions Are Not Risk-Free
Medigap Healthcare Plan 101: What To Know About Enrolling In 2020

Limited nutritional intake due to poor oral health

According to Sam Carroll DMD, Yuma Smiles, “Losing a tooth can be devastating. It can affect your ability to eat, your self-esteem, and your willingness to smile around others. But did you know that over time it can also cause bone loss, a sunken appearance to your mouth, and shifting and misalignment of your other teeth?”

When a person experiences teeth loss, this additionally impairs their ability to eat a wide range of foods, limiting the nutrition their body receives.

As time goes on, the individual’s diet may continue to narrow. He or she may begin to only choose foods that are easy to chew and swallow, versus making sure he or she is eating foods based on their nutritional profile. They may also be susceptible to other health conditions due to poor oral health.

If you see your parents struggling with chewing foods, encourage them to go in for a dental consultation. Better yet, make an appointment for them.

Arthritis and a general decline in mobility

One of the primary health concerns of those who are over 65 is pain in one’s joints, commonly associated with arthritis. Arthritis can lead to a lessened quality of life and inability to move about and care for oneself.

Some types of arthritis can be eased with medications. However, keep an eye on possible side effects. When possible, help your parents take a natural approach to arthritis pain relief.

Activities and actions that can alleviate arthritis pain in a natural way include losing weight. According to Healthline.com, losing weight lessens the burden felt on one’s joints.

Exercise can also help to reduce pain, by keeping your body and joints enjoying a wider range of motion. Swimming is low impact and can help the individual gain the benefits of exercise without further exacerbating joint discomfort.

Your parents’ diet can also help to reduce joint swelling and pain. Encourage a diet low in foods that cause inflammation, such as foods high in sugar, oil, or processed elements. Promote foods high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Memory loss and its effects on health

Memory loss is a common issue faced by those over 70. Occasionally, memory loss issues are due to medication or other underlying conditions. So some memory decline is to be expected, but when it hinders an individual’s health, it might be time to look into in-home or out-home care.

Memory loss can hurt one’s health through not being able to remember correct medication doses. He or she may be unable to remember when to feed him or herself. Or, they could pose a risk to themselves by forgetting to turn off the stove in the kitchen.

The AARP provides coping strategies for those dealing with aging parents who are suffering from memory loss. One of the key takeaways is to avoid brushing over an incident where memory loss played a role. Confronting the issue can help lessen denial on all sides and give everyone the opportunity to look for ways to problem solve.

Stay aware of your parents’ health by visiting and asking about how they are doing. If you live too far away from regular visits, ask a neighbor or someone you know who lives in the area to pop in for you. Have them look out for warning signs that your parents might need additional help for their health, or in caring for the house. If warning signs appear, it might be time for you to hire a caregiver.

If you find that your parents are struggling in any of these 3 areas, gently suggest a checkup. Or make an appointment for them. Going in for a health checkup is no one’s idea of a favorite pastime. But taking care of smaller health issues can prevent small concerns from growing into larger ones.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Suzanne Wincheter
Suzanne is an independent healthcare industry analyst & speaker and entrepreneur. She has two children.She has successfully completed many healthcare events and in-demand as a speaker, regular contributor.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Collaborating for Mobile Health Innovation

December 9, 2012

Due Diligence in Community Health Screening

June 10, 2012
digestive health
Wellness

Hydration and Digestive Health: Keeping Your Gut Happy

June 10, 2024
Image
Home HealthPolicy & Law

Transitional Care Management: Reimbursement of Non-Face-To-Face Services

March 5, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?