When you have a loved one you are close with that happens to be a senior citizen, you may find yourself more and more responsible for helping them get the care they need. And because you want to be sure you are doing the best you can to keep your loved one healthy, you should get to know some of the different ways you can achieve this goal. Then, you can help them get their appointments scheduled and stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Colonoscopy Screenings

As people age, their chance of developing certain types of cancer increases as well. However, there are screening tests that can help to detect those cancers. A colonoscopy screening is one such test.

Once a person reaches the age of 50, they should get their colonoscopy screening scheduled. This exam uses a colonoscope, small tube with a camera, to inspect the colon. The patient is put under light anesthesia and the colonoscope is inserted through the rectum.

The exam is used to look for signs of colon cancer and other digestive health issues. Polyps are small growths that can form inside the colon that can sometimes be indicative of colon cancer. If the doctor performing a colonoscopy screening finds polyps, they can remove them at the same time and run further tests to determine if they are benign or cancerous.

If your loved one has a perfectly clean colonoscopy cleaning with no polyps or other issues, they will likely not need another colonoscopy screening for 10 years. However, if they have polyps or are at high risk of developing colon cancer, they may need more frequent screenings.

Hearing Tests and Hearing Aid Checks

Another common health issue that goes along with aging is hearing loss. While this may not seem like a big problem, it can actually cause several health and safety issues.

If your loved one has undiagnosed hearing loss or does not wear hearing aids that have been prescribed to them, they may not be able to tell what is going on around them. This can put their safety at risk as they may not hear emergency alert sirens, traffic coming near them, or an intruder in their home.

Hearing loss can also affect other health areas, particularly a person's mental health. If a person is suffering from untreated hearing loss, they may become isolated and may not engage in social activities. They can even experience more rapid cognitive decline than they would otherwise because they are not as mentally engaged and stimulated. As such, you will want to ensure your loved one's hearing is regularly tested and they get and properly use hearing aids if they need them.

Now that you know more about helping your senior loved one protect their health, you can be better prepared to provide your loved one with the care and support they need.

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