4 Common Age-Related Health Conditions

As we age, there are certain health conditions and illnesses that we’re more likely to develop and it can be helpful to familiarise yourself with the most common of them so you can be aware of the signs and symptoms, seeking medical advice as and when appropriate.

Arthritis, for example, is particularly common among elderly people (although it can affect anyone at any age), characterised by joint pain and inflammation. It can lead to various mobility problems and you may need help with personal care, such as going to the toilet, dressing or washing.

Hearing loss is another very common condition in those over the age of 50, affecting around 40 per cent of people in the UK. If you are experiencing hearing loss, there are assistive devices out there that can help you at home, everything from telephone amplifiers to flashing and vibrating doorbells and alarms.

Osteoporosis is something else to be aware of, often referred to as the silent disease, as you may have it without even knowing it. It’s a progressive condition that leads to more fragile bones as you age, bones that are then more likely to break easily. The bones in your hips, wrists and spine are especially vulnerable.

Risk factors for osteoporosis include being over 50, gender (with the condition more common in women because of oestrogen loss during menopause), low body weight, other conditions like Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis and an unhealthy lifestyle.

And it’s not just physical conditions that you might like to be more aware of… supporting your mental and emotional health is important as you get older, as well.

Figures show that half of all adults over the age of 55 have experienced common mental health conditions, with triggers including ill health, the death of loved ones and financial worries. Isolation and loneliness can also have a big impact on mental health.

Remember that feeling down isn’t just a natural part of getting older and shouldn’t be accepted as such. It’s an indication that you’re not feeling as well as you should be, so it’s important to seek help and support if necessary.

 

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How To Prevent Hot Water Scalding

There’s nothing quite like the restorative powers of a hot shower or bath and it can be incredibly invigorating indeed. However, for younger and older people, there is an increased risk of hot water scalding if proper care isn’t taken, with tap water scalds one of the most common causes of burn injuries across all age groups.

Older people are particularly at risk of suffering bad scald injuries because their skin is thinner and, as a result, is less tolerant to higher temperatures, but there are ways in which these risks can be mitigated in the home.

One of the best ways to go about this is to use thermostatic mixing valves so that water temperature can be properly controlled and regulated to reduce the risk of scalding.

Research from trade association BEAMA shows that every year approximately 20 people die because of scalds from hot bath water, while an additional 570 suffer serious injuries. Almost three-quarters of the fatalities are seen in those over the age of 65.

Thermostatically controlled valves can regulate the temperature of the water accurately, maintaining preset temperatures to account for varying water pressure and reducing scalding risks significantly.

These devices allow you to pre-select the temperature you want so that the hot and cold water is mixed automatically by a thermally sensitive mechanism that can compensate for any variations in supply pressure or temperature.

If the cold water supply fails for any reason, this mixing mechanism will shut the flow down automatically to make sure that there’s no discharge of dangerously hot water.

Common applications for these valves include baths, showers and hand basins. Showers, in particular, could benefit from installation because the water flow is constant during use and any sudden temperature changes (hot or cold) can lead to injury as a result of shock, slips and falls.

 

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What Is Assisted Living?

Being able to live independently and stay in your home for as long as possible has a raft of associated benefits, including facilitating choice, ensuring a sense of control over your own life, enjoying familiar surroundings, boosting self-esteem and confidence… and lots more.

However, it’s important to prioritise health and safety at home as you get older, as the risks of physical injury will increase with age, as will the chances of experiencing memory problems. As such, it’s essential that you put measures in place to mitigate these risks and ensure that you can stay safe, while you continue to live at home.

To this end, assisted living may become an appropriate option in the future, allowing you to retain your valued independence while enjoying assistance with specific tasks, such as taking medication, washing, getting dressed or going to the bathroom.

Assisted living is also known as extra-care housing, where you live in your own home but with carers available to provide you with personal care and help. These services can be tailored to suit your specific requirements and can include the likes of meal provision, shopping and laundry, as well as personal care.

This kind of care provision can be delivered either in purpose-built accommodation so there’s extra support available onsite 24 hours a day for those who need it, or you can choose to stay in your own home instead.

In terms of costs, assisted living may be a more attractive option than moving into residential care because there will be fewer services provided. However, make sure you factor in that you’ll need to pay charges for care, as well as potentially paying for rent, utility bills and council tax.

If your care needs are lower, assisted living may well be the best option and you can carry out home adaptations that allow you to continue living in your own home for as long as you can.

 

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Dementia/Alzheimer’s The ‘Main Cause Of Death’ In 2022

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed this week (April 12th) that dementia and Alzheimer’s disease were the leading cause of death last year, accounting for 11.4 per cent of all deaths in the UK.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic back in March 2020, covid-19 has dropped out of the top five leading causes of death in England and Wales, with coronary heart disease (which is a risk factor for dementia) emerging as the second biggest cause of death.

Commenting on the findings, Samantha Benham-Hermetz – director of policy and public affairs at charity Alzheimer’s Research UK – said: “These statistics are a stark reminder of the terrible and far-reaching effects of dementia on our society.

“Our most recent survey showed that two in ten people are unaware that dementia is even a cause of death, yet last year it claimed nearly 66,000 lives in England and Wales alone. And despite its devastating impact, and in contrast with other leading causes of death like heart disease or cancer, there are still no treatments available on the NHS that can slow or stop it.”

Dementia and Alzheimer’s was also found to be the leading cause of death among females for 2022, with 42,635 deaths over the course of the year (or 15 per cent of all registered female deaths).

It can certainly be difficult to view diseases of this kind as terminal but they do eventually lead to death.

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dementia is indeed a terminal illness but isn’t sufficiently recognised as being so, which means that many people don’t receive the palliative care required to improve the comfort of the terminally ill.

 

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How Extreme Weather Affects The Over-60s

There are all sorts of different considerations that need to be taken into account over the years as we get older, but it may well be that you have not yet thought about how extremes of weather and adverse conditions (both hot and cold) could affect you later on in life.

Winter is, of course, one of the riskiest times for older people, with increased risks of coming down with an illness or slips, trips and falls.

Virus contraction is a real concern for older people, particularly those in care homes because they’re more exposed to cold and flu due to being cooped up inside for longer.

Icy conditions and shorter days, meanwhile, make it more likely that falls will happen. If someone is left lying unable to move, hypothermia then becomes a real concern, while recovery times from an accident are typically longer, as well.

But it’s not just extremes of cold that can prove problematic for older people. Extremes of heat bring with them their own set of issues – something to bear in mind as we make our way into the summer months.

Too much heat isn’t safe for anyone, but if you’re older or have health problems it can be particularly risky. When the mercury rises, it can be difficult for the body to regulate its temperature and older people often do not adjust well to sudden changes in temperature.

Heat-related issues include heat syncope (a sudden dizziness that occurs when active in hot weather), cramps, heat edema (swelling in the ankles and feet), heat rash, heat exhaustion (characterised by dizziness, thirst, weakness and nausea) and heat stroke (with symptoms including fainting, confusion, lack of sweating even in the heat and dry, flushed skin).

Last year, a difference of 2,803 was seen in the expected number of deaths in England among those over the age of 65 during the summer heatwaves… and it’s possible that we may see a similar situation this year.

Now, new research is underway to assess how extreme weather affects the health and wellbeing of the over-60s, with this demographic being asked to make their views known.

Carried out by the University of York and Heriot-Watt University, the study is calling for views on how storms, floods and heatwaves have affected the lives of the over-60s, part of a national study on climate change and healthy ageing.

Dr Gary Haq, senior researcher at York University’s Stockholm Environment Institute and co-author of the report, said: “Last year was the sixth warmest year on record in the UK. We experienced storms, flooding and heatwaves, drought and even wildfires.

“We want to hear how such events affect older people, both directly and indirectly, and how we can tackle this issue in the future. This could be by sharing photos, videos or other creative formats about your experiences.”

Anyone over the age of 60 is able to contribute to the research study, which can be found on the Healthy Ageing in a Changing Climate website.

 

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How To Prevent Falls In The Bathroom

Accidents can happen in any part of the house but some rooms represent a bigger risk than others – and the bathroom is perhaps the most dangerous room of them all.

Although it’s generally one of the smallest spaces, all sorts of accidents can happen and lots of injuries can be sustained because of the high likelihood of wet and slippery surfaces, and the chances of falling in the bath and shower and around the toilet.

Elderly people are particularly prone to injuring themselves in the bathroom and many of these injuries are fall-related, so making adaptations to this part of the house to help prevent this could be a wise decision to make.

These adaptations include the likes of hand rails and safety grab bars, which can be installed strategically throughout the room to make it safer to navigate your way through.

Where the bathtub is concerned, you can help to make using this facility safer by using non-slip mats and strips on the floor to help prevent your feet from sliding out from beneath you.

Additionally, you could also consider installing grab bars and holding rails on the wall, or perhaps even look into something like a sitting bath so you don’t have to worry about being on your feet at all.

Also think about what you could remove from the bathroom at home that could make it safer for you to use. If you have any bath mats around the toilet or rugs that you have positioned along your walking route, you may want to think about disposing of these, since they could represent a trip hazard.

Lighting is also a key consideration as you need to be able to see sufficiently in order to move around the room safely. Make sure the bathroom is properly lit and that there are no dark corners so you can help keep yourself safe.

Preventing Chronic Diseases Later In Life

As we get older, we become more susceptible to different health conditions, everything from diabetes and hypertension to heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, anxiety, depression and cancer… so putting measures in place to help reduce the risks early on could make a big difference to how well we age.

Interestingly, new research from the University of Queensland has just revealed that women who enjoy quality relationships in their 40s and 50s are less likely to develop multiple conditions when they’re older.

In fact, having unsatisfying social relationships has the potential to be as much of a risk factor for disease as alcohol intake, lack of exercise or obesity.

Lead author of the study Dr Xiaolin Xu observed that there is a known link between poor health and poor relationships, but thus far studies have primarily been focused on factors such as marital status or the size of social network, or on individual diseases.

“In reality, our lives are more complex – people accumulate health conditions as they age, and it’s possible to be married or have a big social network and still be deeply unhappy. We looked at whether relationship satisfaction made a difference to women’s long-term health and their risk of developing multiple health conditions,” the expert went on to say.

Professor Gita Mishra, director of the Centre of Research Excellence in Women and Non-Communicable Diseases, made further comments, suggesting that the quality of social relationships should be taken into consideration when developing preventative health strategies.

Further studies into the health risks associated with loneliness and social isolation have found that it can increase the risk of premature death from all causes, as well as a 50 per cent increased risk of dementia. Poor social relationships were also associated with a 32 per cent increased risk of stroke and a 29 per cent elevated risk of heart disease.

 

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1.6 Million Older People ‘Have Unmet Care & Support Needs’

The UK’s health and social care system for older people appears to be failing in its endeavours to provide the care and support this demographic requires, driven in large part by a lack of workforce planning and ten years of under-investment.

This is according to new research from charity Age UK, revealing that more than 1.6 million older people in the country currently have some level of fundamental care and support need that is not being fully addressed, whether that’s requiring help to get dressed, washed or to get out of bed.

The Fixing The Foundations report also found that the proportion of older people saying they feel supported to manage their health conditions has dropped by nearly 20 per cent in relative terms since 2016/2017, while one in five of those over the age of 80 have some unmet need for social care.

The underfunded and overstretched NHS and social care system is now struggling – and occasionally failing – to manage the needs of older people.

Families and carers are now feeling increasing amounts of pressure because of longstanding problems that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, with ambulances stacking up outside hospitals and long waits for everyone to access urgent care, young and old alike.

One potential solution suggested by the charity is to deliver proactive joined-up healthcare and social care to older people in their own homes before their health takes a turn for the worse. This could reduce the need for crisis hospital care and make it easier for those who do require in-patient care to be safely discharged.

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said: “It would be terrible if Age UK had to publish another report in five years’ time that once again found these same problems were still to be addressed.

“The fact is we know what has to happen to unblock our jammed-up hospitals and give older people the dignified health and social care support they need and deserve, and it’s down to the government above all, to provide the leadership and resources to make it happen.”

Further Age UK research has revealed the impact of the cost of living crisis on people over the age of 60, with 54 per cent saying that it will affect their health and care needs. And a further 52 per cent said they were concerned or very concerned about the winter months, with 62 per cent admitting that they’ve had to cut back on heating their home to make ends meet.

Prolonged exposure to the cold can have a big impact on the health of older people. As we age, it’s harder for our bodies to regulate temperature and it takes us longer to warm up because of a loss of muscle mass, while immune systems can become weaker.

Our hearts and circulatory systems are also affected by colder temperatures, potentially increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

 

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15% Increase In Over-65s Living Alone, Study Finds

A new study analysing data from the 2021 Census has revealed that there are now 3.3 million people over the age of 65 who are now living alone, a 15 per cent increase on the 2011 Census, when 2.9 million people resided in single-person households.

Carried out by retirement specialist firm Just Group, the study suggests that this rising propensity to live alone could potentially drive a surge in demand for social care later in life, as well as other public health services.

Previous research has indicated that there is a close correlation between living alone, poor health and increased use of public health services.

And further studies from Just Group show that 75 per cent of those aged 65 and over haven’t thought about their future care needs, put plans in place for it or discussed such matters with family members and loved ones.

Commenting on the findings, Stephen Lowe – group communications director – said: “These latest government figures show double-digit growth in the number of over-65s living alone over the past decade. Older people are more likely to suffer from health conditions as well as loneliness which in itself can contribute to deteriorating health.

“The almost inevitable knock-on effect from this will be an increased demand for public health services such as social care, piling pressure on a sector that is already struggling to cope.”

Living alone and remaining independent as you age is certainly possible, but it may be that you need to make adaptations to your home to enable you to remain in place and continue life as you know it for as long as you can.

The bathroom, for example, is a good place to begin with when considering home accessibility options, as the potential for slips, trips and falls is higher in this part of the house. Practical Bathing has a range of products available to help make the bathroom safer, including easy access baths and showers. Get in touch with us today to find out more.

How Proactive Telecare Improves Health & Wellbeing

The use of telecare monitoring services to provide remote wellbeing support for elderly, disabled and vulnerable people is fast becoming increasingly accepted as a way of providing care. 

And as technology develops and evolves over the years, it is likely that telemedicine will become the norm more and more, helping people remain independent and living in their own homes for as long as possible as they get older and their needs change.

In fact, a new telecare trial carried out by Scottish housing and care provider Bield Housing and Care has just revealed how effective telemedicine can be at supporting mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing when it’s proactive. 

Bield Response 24 (BR24) is the digital alarm monitoring arm of the housing provider and it has been running its Inspire Phase 2 project in the Renfrewshire area, with some enlightening results.

For example, early intervention and preventative support methods led to a 75 per cent drop in ambulance calls and a 68 per cent decrease in visits to A&E, with the team making regular outgoing calls to individuals’ homes to help maintain and improve health and wellbeing, while anticipating and preventing crises.

Key findings included a 72 per cent drop in alarm use, a 57 per cent drop in requisite physical responses and a 90.0 per cent reduction in necessary family response.

BR24 service manager Gary Baillie said: “The project has shown a clear need for earlier intervention to improve the lives of older adults and help them live safely in their own homes for longer.

“The figures have highlighted that intervention support, whether that is through calls, monitoring trends or helping to create connections within the local community, has worked incredibly well and is vital to help reduce the pressures on public services.

“One customer taking part in the trial went from being completely house-bound to a regular gym-goer in a matter of months thanks to regular catch-up calls from the Inspire Phase 2 team to support her.”

Bield was also recently awarded funding that will see older people involved in shaping the new digital services that will enable them to continue living as independently as possible for as long as possible. 

The Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation project looks to revolutionise how technology is used in elderly housing and care. This new round of funding will ensure that Bield is able to work with tenants to test out devices, apps and systems across a range of different accommodation settings.

Tenants will also be given shared responsibility with staff members to co-produce digital services to help support independent living even further.

Bield is one of six providers in the UK to have been awarded this funding – and the only provider in Scotland. Other recipients include Haringey Council, Southend Care, Wiltshire Council, the POBL Group and the Platform Housing Group.

 

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