Risk Factor -- Needing Help with Health and Personal Care

• Often, older adults need help with health and personal care because of long-term or chronic diseases or conditions.
  
  
• For older adults the most common chronic conditions are: high blood pressure, diabetes, incontinence, heart disease, arthritis, depression, emphysema, and vision and hearing loss.
  
  
• Chronic diseases or conditions get worse slowly. They are often due to:   heredity, lifestyle factors (smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet, stress, etc.), exposure to things in your environment, and things going on in one’s body.  
  
  
• About 80% of older adults have at least one chronic disease. And, 50% have two or more. 
  
  
• Studies have shown that poor health is not an inevitable effect of aging.   
  
  
• Older adults with chronic conditions may need help with bathing, taking pills, making meals, walking, going to the bathroom, rides, staying safe, and avoiding falls that cause injury.
  

KEY TIP:   Take care of your chronic conditions.  You will need less help from others and you will spend less on health and long-term care expenses, including nursing home care.

Other Tips