Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Some useful tips for aging gracefully Health & Lifestyle

CHENNAI: As one grows old, the need for medical attention also grows but that need by itself could lead to other problems, say doctors.

Ageing is a natural process and includes a range of changes in a person’s constitution, some of which is not well understood. A study done for the World Health Organisation explains that the individual healthcare expense for the elderly is higher as they suffer from multiple problems and need longer care.

The multi-centric study conducted in 10 cities in India revealed that the elderly have to cope with weight-loss, hypertension, diabetes, poor vision, loss of hearing, ischemic heart disease, anaemia, arthritis, falls, depression, asthma, COPD and TB. These diseases accounted for 90 per cent of the diagnoses in elderly patients. Commonest among the problems of the elders are functional disabilities, loss of sight and hearing.

“A common problem among the elderly in the city is arthritis and knee and low back pain. We see a lot of arthritis in people over the age of 70,” points out geriatrician V.N. Natarajan.

Though elders manage many of the lifestyle-induced diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma, there are some health problems that the elderly are unable to accept as part of ageing process, he says.

Stress urinary incontinence due to enlarged prostate, poor bowel movement, insomnia and intermittent awakening at nights are some problems that the elderly must come to terms with, he says.

As one grows old the ability to eat also reduces resulting in changes in digestive process. But those who are on too many drugs also face problems induced by drugs, he says.

Polypharmacy (a term when a patient is on many drugs) is common among the elderly. Those who take more than five drugs would suffer from side-effects induced by the drugs, he says.

As one ages, the mental faculties also slow down. It is important to be aware of behavioural changes in the elderly, says psychiatrist S. Nambi.

Depression, dementia and delusional disorders are common ailments that are treatable or manageable with drugs. Dr. Nambi says though ageing could rob a person of some of his functional abilities, those such as dementia, delusional disorders and Alzheimer’s disease could be mitigated by ensuring physical, emotional and psychological well-being of the elderly.

In case of the elderly who are already very ill, palliative care helps.

Such care includes providing companionship, performing motor exercises, using medication only when necessary and ensuring good skin care routine.

Some simple acts such as playing their favourite music, allowing them to eat their favourite food and keeping them engaged in activities would prevent deterioration of their mental faculties, he says.

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