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Author: Home Helpers Home Care

My husband and I just returned from a marvelous vacation in Europe with a group of friends and like most wives, I checked in with him along every leg of our tour to make sure he was feeling and faring well, and he was not experiencing any symptoms or issues about which to be concerned.

My husband is good about going to his doctor for regular check-ups, but that’s not always the case with older men. Oftentimes, senior men will wait until serious symptoms develop before seeking medical attention.

I encourage senior men to review the recommended physical exams and screenings that are appropriate for them and schedule any necessary ones as suggested by their healthcare provider.

The University of Florida Health (UF) recommends that senior men visit their healthcare provider routinely, even if they feel healthy for five important reasons:

• Screen for medical issues.
• Assess risks for future medical problems.
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle.
• Update vaccinations and other preventative services.
• Help you get to know your provider in case of an illness.

According to UF, “There are specific times when you should see your provider to receive specific health screenings. The US Preventive Services Task Force publishes a list of recommended screenings. Below are screening guidelines for men aged 65 and older.”

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening

• If you are aged 65 to 75 and have smoked, you should have an ultrasound to screen for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Other men should discuss this screening with their healthcare provider.

Blood Pressure Screening

Have your blood pressure (BP) checked at least once a year. Watch for blood pressure screening opportunities in your community. Ask your provider if you can stop by periodically for BP checks in their office or use automated machines in grocery stores and pharmacies to keep tabs on your BP levels. Your doctor can tell you if you need to have your BP checked more often if you have certain health conditions.

Cholesterol Screening

If your cholesterol level is normal, your cholesterol should be checked every 5 years. You should have repeat testing sooner if you’ve gained weight or changed your diet, or if you have high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or other health conditions.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Until age 75, you should have screening for colorectal cancer on a regular basis. If you are 76 or older, you should ask your provider if you need to be screened. Several tests are available for colorectal cancer screening, including colonoscopy, CT colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy, fecal blood and immunochemical tests, and a stool sDNA-FIT test.

You may need a colonoscopy more often if you have risk factors for colorectal cancer such as ulcerative colitis, personal or family history of colon or rectal cancer, or history of growths in your colon (adenomatous polyps).

Dental Exam

You should go to the dentist once or twice a year for dental exams and cleanings. You may need to go more often in cases of gum disease or other dental conditions.

Diabetes Screening

You should be screened for diabetes every 3 years. It may be necessary to be tested more often if you have risk factors like a family history of diabetes, you are overweight or obese, you have high blood pressure, prediabetes, or a history of heart disease.

Eye Exam

An eye exam should be performed every 1-2 years. If you have diabetes, an eye exam that includes an examination of the retina should be performed annually.

Hearing Test

Have your hearing tested if you experience signs of hearing loss.

Immunizations

Commonly needed vaccines include:

• Flu shot
• COVID-19
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• Shingles
• Tetanus-diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine
• Tetanus-diphtheria booster

Infectious Disease Screening

All adults ages 18 to 79 should be tested for Hepatitis C once; all people ages 15 to 65 should be tested once for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and depending on your lifestyle and medical history, you may need to be screened for syphilis, chlamydia, and other infections.

Lung Cancer Screening

An annual lung cancer screening should be performed if you are age 50 to 80 years; you have a 20 pack/year smoking history; and you currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.

Osteoporosis Screening

If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, you should discuss screening with your healthcare provider. Risk factors include:

• Long-term steroid use
• Low body weight
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use
• Fractures after age 50
• Family history of hip fracture or osteoporosis

Physical Exams

All adults should visit their provider, even if they are healthy, to screen for diseases, assess risk of future medical problems, encourage a healthy lifestyle, update vaccinations and other preventive care services, maintain a relationship with a provider in case of future illness, review medications and risk for interactions, and monitor mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Prostate Cancer Screening

For men aged 55-69, talk to your provider about the pros and cons of having a PSA test. Find out whether screening decreases your chance of dying from prostate cancer; whether there is any harm from prostate cancer screening, such as side effects from testing or overtreatment of cancer when discovered; and whether you have a higher risk of prostate cancer than others.

For men 70 or older, most recommendations are against screening. If you choose to be tested, the PSA blood test is repeated over time (yearly or less often), though the best frequency is not known.

Skin Exam

Your provider may check your skin for signs of skin cancer, especially if you are at higher risk. People at higher risk include those who have had skin cancer before, have close relatives with skin cancer, or have a weakened immune system.

A compassionate Home Helpers® caregiver can help you or senior men in the Clearwater area with senior care services including transportation assistance to doctor appointments, examinations, and health screenings. I am available to schedule a FREE Consultation at your convenience so I can assess specific needs and match the perfect caregiver to make life easier.

We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have been ranked among the Home Care Pulse Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providersand to have receivedthese awards in 2024: Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, as well as being named a Caring.com 2023 Caring Super Star.

We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Holiday, Hudson, Largo, New Port Richey, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Port Richey, Safety Harbor, Saint Petersburg, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Trinity, and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier® 727.942.2539

Source:

University of Florida Health