Weight can be sensitive matter related to such aspects as health, appearance and social prejudice to obesity. Obese seniors are said to experience some form of neglect such as refusal to share meals, being left alone and other forms of abuse. Want to provide the best care to a friend or relative with obesity as they grow older? Here are tips and ways on how to look for the right support and learn how to advocate for the patient.
It is common knowledge that overweight has some negative effects on an individual’s health. It poses such risks as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and certain forms of cancer. Overweight can also carry Its effects on other health facts no matter the reason it is not necessarily the cause. Obesity makes osteoarthritis worse because there is additional pressure on the joints and seniors in this bracket are also more prone to falls.
This also affects health because preferences can be bias to overweight people. Even, it leads oneself low self-esteem, depression and health unequal treatment. Obese people may be ‘screened out’ for some illnesses and subsequently receive inadequate care. This makes it about necessary to know how obesity may affect your close one.
It has details on obesity in older adults, role of senior living in a care plan and tips on how to address the issue so loved ones battling obesity. It also includes a list of many senior living communities with wellness program resources for those who are having difficulties with weighing issues.
The Following are the Factors that affect Obesity in the Elderly
The source which I used to gain some of this knowledge is DrSono and it estimates that 41. Currently, 5% of the U. S. adults that are above the age of 60 are deemed to be obese. These figures are also relatively close to the rest of the adult population; the obesity prevalence is 44 percent. 3 % among people aged between 40 and 59 and 39. 2 percent whilst, the employment opportunity for the youth was 8% among those youth in the age bracket of 20 to 39 years.
Nonetheless, a number of issues related to obesity diagnosis in the older adults were noted above. BMI is the most common way that doctors apply to define whether a person is at the right weight for his or her height. The measurement is a little discouraged when it comes to providing information about the health of people since the general weight of people is considered and not the percentage of muscle mass that a person possesses.
This can be erraneous for seniors. Over the years, people develop reduced muscle mass. They may remain the same weight as before but it’s fat instead of muscles. That brings a rather peculiar circumstance where you can be overweight and still be open to several diseases associated with obesity.
On the other extreme, most seniors gain less height as they age, and this mainly results from the weakening muscles and bones. This is attributable to wearing of cartilage in the joints and the discs in r spinal column becoming flattened. If you are shortening but there are no changes in your body mass composition then it is wrong to diagnose you with obesity.
There are problems linked to the use of height and weight measurement, but there are other possible calculations including the use of waist measurement. If you feel that there is a possibility of an inaccurate diagnosis you can always consult your physician for better alternatives.
Five Ways How Caregivers Can Advocate for Seniors Living With Obesity
Obesity has been shown in the past provokes individuals to specifically feel that they are discriminated against due to their size. Stigmatization was found in a study carried out in 2011 to have impact on individual emotional, physical and social health. Even more worrying is that weight bias may influence, health status and prognosis. When it comes to elderly people all of them should be treated as valued individuals. That is why learning how to advocate for your loved one with obesity is very important to ensure that happens.
Personal Advocacy
The majority of seniors comprising the obese population require a champion who will speak on their behalf especially in their encounter with the health informatics, care and other service providers. To ensure they receive the care they need, you can:To ensure they receive the care they need, you can:
Ensure a correct diagnosis: As seen above, obesity risk can be missed in the assessment of the clinical condition of elder patients. Do not hesitate to insist on additional examinations as they are your body, and you need to do everything possible to make it better.
Ask your doctor for clarification: If you are communicating with a doctor of your loved one’s health, pay attention to the words being said and if you did not understand a certain something, do not hesitate to enquirer for explanation.
Look for an obesity-friendly doctor: If possible, use someone who does not have weights bias when giving your recommendations. These providers offer accessible offices and spacious and comfortable chairs in the waiting areas and will attend to the patient without attributing diseases and illnesses to the patient’s size.
Ask for a second opinion: In case you feel that your doctor is discriminating against your health issues because of your weight, seek the opinion of another physician. It is also important that you ask them how they would manage those symptoms if they were explaining it to a patient who is obese.
Ask about science-based obesity treatments: Consult the doctor on obesity prevention methods that have proven effective and those that would be helpful to patients of a certain age.
Get a medication review: Request for a check up on your loved one’s medication. Any of those causes should result in one requesting for another brand, especially when seeking for weight gain.
Challenge weight bias: Guideline 3: When you hear an instance of discrimination of people with obesity, do not accept such a view.
Societal Advocacy
To help a single person is very significant in changing his or her life. But, they are capable of being structurally stigmatized nonetheless. You may wish be to involved with larger obesity issues in order to help change society.
Recognize obesity as a disease: Obesity is a long lasting disease that has been accredited by the American Medical Association. When you hear somebody prejudice individuals for the obesity, remember that obesity is a medical condition.
Fight against weight bias: Currently, in most of the states, it is possible to discriminate weight-oriented clients without violating the law. Email your representatives and demand to know how they’re working to shield your citizens from weight discrimination.
Promote obesity prevention strategies: They are used to thinking that obesity can be prevented through ‘the entrance of fewer calories than was exited’. Unfortunately, the popular form of the expression ‘The solution is between the ears’ does not hold here because human bodies differ and there are many things that increase obesity rates. Discuss people on the requirement of science for obesity program and heathcare for seniors in each state.
Encourage equitable access to obesity care: Unfortunately, most forms of obesity management are not part of general health insurance, including Medicare. This leaves a gap in people’s continuum of care meaning that there is a lack of adequate access to care between acute and long-term care. Talk to the legislators about extension of this as a basic heath insurance coverage.
Speak up about your experiences with weight discrimination: Share with other people, your own story and the narrative of someone close to you. This can change society’s opinions and let others get to know they are not alone.
