As we age, we will likely have at least one chronic health condition to manage. According to NCOA, 94.9% of adults age 60 and older have at least one condition while 78.7% have two or more health conditions. If you are trying to care for a senior and are employed, scheduling all the necessary doctor’s appointments can be another full-time job.
These conditions get harder to manage for a parent or grandparent who wants to age safely at home. Frequent trips to the doctor’s office require savvy scheduling skills and a lot of time off from work. If only there was mobile medical care that came to the home to provide oversight for some of the most common health conditions… Oh, there is.
5 Common Health Conditions Treated at Home
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Depression
1. Hypertension is when your blood pressure is too high.
High blood pressure (HBP) is one of the most common diseases affecting older adults. Additionally, hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. While there are steps you can take to prevent or reduce, the condition requires regular oversight from a medical provider.
Steps to Prevent High Blood Pressure
Maintain healthy weight
Regulate stress
Limit salt and alcohol
Exercise
Check blood pressure regularly
There are many benefits to having a mobile medical provider come to your home to provide oversight for common conditions. For hypertension, it allows the provider to see you in your home environment and make recommendations to help manage certain conditions. It is hard to hide your lifestyle and daily habits from the mobile medical provider standing in your living room which can make their visits so much more effective.
2. An unhealthy lifestyle can cause or worsen high cholesterol levels.
High cholesterol occurs when your body has an excess of bad fats (or lipids), which clog arteries and can lead to heart disease. For an at-risk senior, cholesterol levels should be measured regularly with a simple test called a lipid panel. Mobile medical providers partner with a mobile lab, among other mobile services, enabling these tests to be performed at home and eliminating yet another trip (and absence at work!).
Lifestyle Changes to Decrease High Cholesterol
Regular physical activity
Quit smoking
Moderate alcohol use
Prevent/reduce obesity
Frustrated by visits to the doctor when your aging loved one fibs to the doctor about all their healthy daily activities? Those days are over when the mobile medical service visits! If mom is still sneaking cigarettes or dad is spending the day sedentary in the recliner, the provider will know and can adjust care accordingly.
3. Arthritis is a common health condition that can be treated at home.
According to the CDC, almost half (47.3%) of adults age 65 and older report a diagnosis of arthritis. The inflammation of joints causes pain and stiffness, gradually reducing functioning when not treated properly. In addition to the steps you can take to help delay the onset or manage symptoms, your mobile medical provider can create a care plan with you that includes ongoing support through providers such as in-home mobile occupational therapy.
Managing Arthritis at Home
Exercise
Watch weight
Avoid joint injuries
Do not smoke
Even losing one pound can remove four pounds of pressure on your knees! That makes a big difference over the long run – no pun intended. A busy adult caregiver can work with the mobile medical provider to encourage the changes needed to make the painful process of arthritis more manageable.
4. Diabetes management can be difficult with co-existing health conditions.
Among the 1.2 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed each year in America, 29.2% are age 65 and older. This population is also more at risk of developing complications related to diabetes, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), kidney failure, and heart disease. It is important to have a healthcare team that encourages open communication and with whom you can talk honestly.
Diabetes-Specific Assessments
Eye exam
Kidney screening
Nerve damage
Diabetes can negatively affect your eyesight, kidney function, and blood circulation to your extremities (neuropathy). For an older adult with diabetes, routine oversight and an involved medical provider are the keys to success. By working with a senior and their primary caregiver, a mobile medical provider can establish a medication regimen that is sustainable.
5. Depression is a serious mood disorder.
Depression is a common health condition among older adults and treatments are available. Talking to your medical provider is important if you think that your aging parent might have depression. The condition can get better if treated early.
Risk Factors for Depression
Medical conditions
Stress
Sleep problems
Social isolation
Lack of physical activity
Everyone needs to feel connected and productive to survive and thrive. Depression is not a normal part of aging and should be addressed as soon as possible. If your elderly parent has lost interest in activities, expresses hopelessness, or has had changes in appetite, make an appointment for a mobile medical provider to assess and treat as soon as possible. By bringing care to you, a mobile provider can establish a relationship and begin to help identify which treatment would be most effective.
Partner with a Mobile Medical Provider to Manage Health Conditions
The demands on our daily life build up an unhealthy level of pressure that will negatively affect our physical and mental wellness. Work smarter, not harder – retain the services of a mobile medical provider for your aging parents. You weren’t meant to do it all alone, and adding this valuable team of medical professionals to your village is a really smart move.
Convenience is a big benefit of mobile medical services. Rather than spend your time with aging parents sitting in a doctor’s office or waiting for lab work to be completed, sit on the couch, and have a chat. Spend your time truly connecting with your loved ones rather than hurrying to and from appointments while anxiously worrying about work or tasks that await you at home.
Mobile medical providers want to spend time focused on patient care. They engage with their patients to build effective care plans to address common health conditions and help them stay healthier longer. There’s nothing that makes a mobile provider happier than an interested patient and family that works cooperatively with them to obtain positive results.
Open communication and a personal touch are two reasons why Mobile Medical Providers are a Resource We Love. Learn more about how these professionals on the go can help you manage common health conditions in the Resources Section of our Blog.