Take heed of the Indicators in assessing health of older adults.

Take heed of the indicators in assessing health

of older adults.

Researched by Dr Abe V Rotor

Revival of home and school gardening program in support of the 

government's thrust  on food self-sufficiency involving the young and 

senior citizens alike.

Author (right) discusses with then president of ARDF (Agricultural and Rural Development Foundation) Miss Zeny Ubaldo (center), on strengthening the role of senior citizens in  food production and environmental conservation in the presence of Cecille Rotor (right) and guest.

Author (left) examines model of a floating jeepney transport for senior citizens invented by Dr. Domingo Tapiador retired UN-FAO official (right), in the presence of the late veteran journalist Dell H Grecia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), indicators that can be used to help assess health of older adults. 

These indicators are related to health status, health behaviors and compliance with preventative care recommendations and include the following:

·  Number of physically unhealthy days reported per month (due to illness or injury)
· Frequent mental distress (depression, stress, anxiety or emotional problems

  reported on 14 or more days per month)
· Complete loss of natural teeth
· Current smoking status (smoker or non-smoker)
· Lack of leisure time/physical activity
· Regularly eating fewer than 5 fruits and vegetables per day
· Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or greater)
· Reported disability (physical, mental or emotional) that limits activity or requires

  special equipment (cane, walker, wheelchair, hearing-impaired telephone)
· Hip fracture
· Receiving a yearly flu vaccine
· Following routine health care / screening procedure recommendations 

  (cancer, high cholesterol)

General health care recommendations in your 70s and older include the following:

·  Blood pressure screening—every 2 years or as recommended
· Bone mineral density test—as recommended to screen for osteoporosis 

  (bone loss)
· Cholesterol screening—every 5 years or as recommended
· Colorectal cancer screening—as recommended
· Dental exam—every 6 months or as recommended
· Diabetes screening—every 3 years or as recommended
· Eye exam—every 1 – 2 years or as recommended by an ophthalmologist
· Hearing test—yearly or as recommended
· Immunizations—yearly flu vaccine, herpes zoster vaccine (to prevent shingles;

  if not previously vaccinated), pneumonia vaccine (as recommended, if not

  previously vaccinated), tetanus (every 10 years)
· Mammogram (women)—as recommended by your health care provider
· Pelvic exam (women)—yearly or as recommended
· Pap test (women)—as recommended by your health care provider 

  (Most women over the age of 65 usually do not need this test.)
· Prostate cancer screening (men)—as recommended by your health 

  care provider
· Thyroid test (TSH)—as recommended by your health care provider

Sources: National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Helpguide.org; Remedy Health Media