Do a good job of daily care to resolve the three major risks of the elderly

Yi Xiaofeng, Fu Jinglei, Science Times reporter Li Liyun

Not long ago, Mr. Fan, who was over 70 years old, was drinking tea with his friends and laughing loudly. He accidentally choked on the tea and suffered from severe coughing and wheezing. He was rushed to the hospital by his family. The doctor said that if he had been sent to the hospital later, the consequences for Mr. Fan would be unpredictable.

Li Caixia, a member of the Geriatric Comprehensive Assessment Branch of the Chinese Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics and director of the Nursing Department of Heilongjiang Provincial Geriatric Hospital, said: "In old age, the body's functions gradually decline, and the energy, physical strength and mental strength are greatly reduced, and many health risks follow. For example, the elderly are prone to falls, choking when drinking water, dementia and getting lost, so we must increase daily care and intervention efforts to help elderly friends resolve risks."

Preventing falls: Improving your home environment

Falling is one of the most common accidental injuries among the elderly and is also the main cause of disability among the elderly. According to surveys, the incidence of falls among the elderly in my country is about 15%. Globally, about 28%-35% of the elderly aged 65 and above fall each year, and about 32%-42% of the elderly aged 70 and above fall each year, and as many as 52.6% of people are injured due to falls.

"The reduced balance and walking ability, coupled with factors such as dizziness and blurred vision, increase the probability of falls and injuries in the elderly," Li Caixia explained. In this regard, she gave the following suggestions:

First, we need to evaluate and improve the home environment of the elderly. Uneven floors, scattered items, low wires or clotheslines, etc. must be renovated and cleaned up, and all "stumbling blocks" must be removed. At the same time, anti-slip mats should be laid in frequently used areas such as stairs, toilets, beds, sofas, kitchens, etc., and handrails or supports should be installed.

Secondly, under the premise of safety, the elderly can also choose appropriate sports and carry out appropriate activities and exercises. For example, taking a walk every day can help to enhance leg muscle strength and sense of balance. Doing Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin, as well as aerobic exercises such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming, cycling, and square dancing can all help improve body endurance and prevent muscle and bone storage from being "stolen" by the years.

When getting up to move around or going out, necessary auxiliary tools are also very important, such as walkers, canes, etc. The elderly can choose according to their actual needs.

Prevent choking: Practice using a straw to strengthen throat muscles

In addition to falling, choking is also an unsafe incident that the elderly are prone to. Excluding cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, bronchiectasis, pharyngitis, pneumonia, cervical spondylosis and other predisposing factors, the elderly often choke when drinking water, eating, and eating snacks. This is usually caused by swallowing muscle degeneration, muscle weakness or muscle movement disorders. In mild cases, it can lead to infection, coughing, sputum, wheezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms. In severe cases, it can cause sudden suffocation and endanger life.

How to prevent accidental injuries caused by choking? Li Caixia suggested that we should first change our bad eating habits and eating methods, chew slowly, slow down the speed of eating, avoid eating in a hurry or wolfing down. Food should be cut into small pieces and fully cooked, and try not to eat raw, spicy, greasy, and irritating foods. In particular, spicy and other irritating foods are prone to esophageal inflammation and are more likely to cause choking. In addition, you can also use a straw to drink water. Practicing with a straw can strengthen the throat muscles of the elderly.

Drinking water before and after eating can keep the throat moist, help the chyme pass smoothly, and reduce the discomfort of swallowing. It is important to remind the elderly not to drink water or eat when they are in high spirits, laughing, playing or excited, so as to avoid sudden choking and coughing. If it happens, the patient should be sent to the doctor immediately.

Prevent getting lost: Wear a positioning bracelet or watch

The older you are, the higher your risk of amnesia and dementia. Among the large elderly population, a certain proportion of people suffer from Alzheimer's disease, cerebellar atrophy, and depression. "Elderly people getting lost" has become an increasingly serious social problem.

To reduce the occurrence of tragedies, Li Caixia believes that the first thing is to build a "fence" for the family environment - that is, the doors and windows must be firm. Family members should develop the habit of regularly checking the safety of doors and windows, and help the elderly close the windows before going out. At the same time, cameras with real-time network monitoring can be installed for the elderly in the indoor or outdoor hallway. Family members can understand and grasp the whereabouts of the elderly at the first time through information push and other forms when the elderly go out, to prevent the elderly from "slipping" out of the house without the family members knowing. In addition, it is better to use smart locks for door locks, which can be controlled by family members to ensure that the elderly will not open the door without supervision.

When the elderly go out, they should be reminded to carry their ID cards and mobile phones with them, and important information such as the elderly’s name and children’s contact information should be written or embroidered on items the elderly are accustomed to using, or they should be given positioning bracelets, positioning watches, etc., to facilitate family members to track their location at any time.

Most importantly, family members should maintain good communication and exchanges with the elderly and understand their inner needs and psychological state. Li Caixia believes that listening to the voices of the elderly, understanding their daily activities and preferences, and meeting their desires and requirements can help reduce their desire to go out alone. When the elderly go out, young people should try to accompany them if they have the conditions and time.