Two Common Health Problems in Later Life and How to Manage them

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It's a fact that aging is an accepted part of life. In early adulthood, most people are in their peak of fitness and often take part in team sports or exercise routines at a high level of intensity. This is the stage in life when people can perform at the highest levels of physical activity and can often participate in professional sports if they have the fitness and skill levels to do so. For most adults, a decline in physical fitness starts to occur between their late twenties and mid-thirties. It's a slow decline at first, but even in this age range, it may not be possible to continue to compete at a professional level in sports. In later life, as people become elderly, they will usually be far less active than their younger adult life. In addition, some health problems may become more common. This article describes two common health problems that many elderly people face and how they can be effectively managed.

Memory problems 

As people enter the later stages of life and become senior citizens, it's common for them to experience a decline in their cognitive functioning, especially in their ability to remember and recall information. In mild cases, this may simply be a case of being forgetful on occasion or having difficulty in remembering some common facts. However, the elderly are at greater risk of serious cognitive impairments such as dementia. Elderly people with moderate to advanced levels of dementia will find it difficult to lead a safe and healthy life in their own home as they may struggle to cook for themselves or remember to turn the oven off. 

When memory problems directly impact quality of life and personal safety, it's important to consider relocating to an assisted living home that specializes in memory problems. If you live in Tennessee, you can find such establishments by searching online for memory care in Nashville, TN. These types of professionally run facilities will have experienced healthcare staff on site who will be able to create care plans for their residents to keep them safe. In addition, many facilities will be able to offer recreational activities for their residents that help to improve their daily life and cope with memory issues. One such activity is the use of music therapy to improve cognition and recall in elderly people. This allows residents with severe memory and communication problems to enjoy participating in musical activities that allow them to reminisce about the past.

Declining mobility

As people age, their mobility levels may start to decline. Often, this is due to a reduction in physical activity which leads to a loss of muscle mass and bone density. Over time, an extremely sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of suffering from osteoporosis where a significant amount of bone material has been lost. This can mean that slips, trips, or falls are more likely to result in serious injuries that require hospitalization such as bone fractures. 

In later life, it's vitally important to take part in regular exercise at a suitable intensity that matches the person's fitness levels. Staying active helps to minimize bone loss and keeps muscles strong; both of which can promote improved mobility as a senior citizen.