When you grow up, you typically start to see the doctor once a year or as needed. However, is this still the case when you are a senior? Your loved one may stop going to the doctor regularly even when they need to because they can’t drive or get there anymore. This is not a good reason to stop seeing your doctor, and if you have chronic health conditions, it is super important to see the doctor. If your loved one needs help getting places, it is time to look into senior home care for non-emergency transportation. This means your loved one can easily get to and from their doctor’s appointments. So, how often should they really be going?
Go For Checkups
Your elderly mom or dad should have a primary care doctor they have been seeing for some time. They should book yearly checkups to manage ongoing conditions and look for anything new that has been bothering them. If something is wrong, senior home care should encourage a senior to book an appointment before their annual checkup. Senior home care can keep an eye on things like symptoms and behaviors to help your loved one with their doctor’s visits.
They May Need Specialized Care
Some seniors are lucky and blessed with no chronic conditions. On the other hand, some seniors may require special testing, which will be based on what the doctor says. A senior may call a doctor to get into an appointment, but they may need to go get special tests done beforehand. Once a senior starts getting these tests, they may be required to get the same tests done yearly or multiple times a year to manage certain conditions. Some seniors are required to get blood and urine tests done regularly, which will depend on what their doctors tell them. If this is something your loved one requires to stay healthy, they must stick with it and not miss any appointments. When they start missing these tests, it can truly mess with their health.
What About the Dentist?
This is an appointment that many seniors want to put off because their teeth are bad. However, not going to the dentist at least once a year can be seriously damaging. When your teeth are not looked after, it can lead to diseases, tooth rot, or even cancer in extreme cases. If your senior has any issues, they may want to go more than once a year. It’s crucial to see the dentist regularly because dental health has a lot to do with overall health and quality of life.
Ask About Eyes
Every doctor will have different requirements for their patients. Some seniors with no eye problems and are in good health may only need to see their eye doctor once a year, while others tell their patients to come once every two or even three years. This appointment will greatly vary depending on what treatments your loved one needs and what their eye health has been like in the past.
However, if senior care starts noticing that your elderly loved one is not seeing well, it’s time to book an appointment sooner rather than later.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Home Care in Levittown, NY please contact the caring staff at Brookville Homecare today. 516-802-7722