We all want to look out for our relatives and ourselves as we age. But it’s not always obvious what changes we should accept as part of ‘growing old gracefully’ and what we should be more concerned about, and seek medical advice.
Read on, as Dr Catherine Frankum, General Practitioner with special interest in frailty, has shared her top 5 areas for potential risk and concern, to help you navigate this potentially confusing topic.
1) Mental Health
Mental deterioration, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and depression are near the top of most people’s concerns around ageing. Often relatives are the earliest people to spot changes in their loved ones. This may be lapses in memory, changes in behaviour or an altered mood. Even though it can be a tricky subject to address - the sooner talked about often the better the outcome.
2) Weight loss/malnutrition
Weight loss or a lack of nutrients in the diet can commonly affect the older age groups of our society, and unexplained weight loss should always be investigated. There are many possible causes ranging from practical ones such as difficulty obtaining or cooking food, through mechanical issues with dentures, as well as a reduction in appetite, all of which can affect the overall quality of diet. Your doctor can help by exploring the reasons for weight loss, conducting suitable tests, and offering support and advice for how to achieve a balanced and nutritious diet.
3) Fall risk
Falls can be life changing in an older person, and various age-related changes increase their risk. Symptoms to be aware of that increase the risk of a fall over time include joint pain and stiffness, the use of multiple medications with varying side effects, impaired eyesight and hearing, and reducing muscle tone and core stability. It is never too late to take steps to manage each of these symptoms. A GP assessment combined with input from an occupational therapist service could help to minimise these risks and result in your loved one maintaining their independence for longer.
4) Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath should never be dismissed as simply a loss of fitness. The big concerns your doctor will want to explore will be possible lung or heart conditions. Thankfully these can be identified with relatively simple examinations and tests, and often the cause is very treatable, resulting in meaningful improvements of quality of life and longevity.
5) Changes in bathroom habit
It can be a sensitive topic to broach, particularly for older generations, but bowel habits and the frequency with which we pass urine are key medical indicators. It really is important to overcome our shyness and consult our doctor about any changes (It’s ‘all in a days’ work for them!) There are many possible causes for urinary and bowel habit changes and your doctor can help to differentiate the normal from the dangerous and provide peace of mind.
The Conclusion: No, you are not making a fuss!
There are so many ways to make the process of ageing more comfortable, thereby preserving independence and quality of life. However, the older generation can be incredibly stoical, uncomplaining, and generally reluctant to ‘make a fuss’.
It can take gentle persistence to encourage someone we are concerned about in to the consulting room - no one likes to feel nagged or pressured. If acknowledging a specific concern is challenging, it might be less threatening to suggest a very broad based ‘general MOT’ or health check, such as our Enhanced Wellness Screen. This combines comprehensive investigative tests, and ample time with the doctor to tease out any concerns. We recommend Wellness Screening as a great health habit to get in to from around aged 35 - so you could even suggest it as a ‘team initiative’.
Lastly, if you have worked hard just to convince yourself or your loved one to book an appointment, you will want to do everything possible to optimise that consultation. Check out our downloadable guide to getting the most out of any consultation for some top tips.
Wishing you all good health
Dr Catherine
Consultations with Dr Catherine Frankum can be booked by calling 01962 776010- we recommend a 40 minute consultation for our more senior patients, to allow all concerns to be comprehensively and sensitively addressed.
Helpful websites include:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk