As people age, they should have preventative services to protect their health. Preventative health services can help people live longer, healthier lives. As their agent, you can talk with your clients about the preventative services seniors should contemplate.
Medical care can become more complex as people get older, which is one reason preventative screenings and care are so important for seniors. Preventing problems before they happen — or catching them early — helps people have better outcomes.
Read on to learn more about preventative services for seniors, then contact us at American Senior Benefits for more details.
Preventative Health Services Seniors Should Consider
There are some basic behavior modifications that can help seniors live longer with a better quality of life. Often, these are simple habits so with education and support, many people can successfully make healthy changes.
Nutrition Counseling
As people age, their dietary needs can change along with their activity levels. And seniors need to focus on different nutritional needs as compared with young adults. A diet rich in healthy fats, vegetables, and minerals can help.
Smoking Cessation Support
Seniors who smoke or use tobacco products should receive help with quitting smoking if they want. Even people who have smoked for many years can experience health benefits from quitting.
Health Screenings
The risk of some diseases, like cancer and heart disease, can increase as people age. People should consider their doctor’s recommendations for regular cancer screenings as they age, such as colorectal screenings for people over age 50 and breast cancer screenings for women over age 40.
Exercise Programs
Helping seniors learn some exercise routines can help improve balance and fitness – two critical components in helping people avoid falls. Building muscle through a weightlifting program and improving cardiac health with cardio exercises both have a place in a senior’s exercise program. Lower intensity workouts like swimming, yoga, and walking may be recommended for older adults as well.
Flu Vaccine
While the focus has been on the COVID-19 vaccine recently, the flu vaccine remains critically important as a preventative health measure. The CDC recommends everyone over 6 months to get a flu shot every year. And in seniors, this is even more important, as they can suffer longer with the flu and may end up hospitalized.
Bone Density Test
An osteoporosis test is also called a bone mass or bone density test. It is recommended for women over age 65. Bone density can decrease as people age, which makes it easier for a senior to suffer a fractured bone.
Mental Health Support
As people age, they can lose important social support. Friends move or pass away, children grow up, and work friendships can fade in retirement. Isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, fear, and other negative mental health conditions. A mental health screening can help seniors find an outlet to talk about any issues they may be having.
Ways to Support Your Senior Clients with Preventative Services
As their agent, you are uniquely positioned to help your senior clients understand their health insurance benefits and the preventative services they should consider. When you meet with your senior customers and their families, build in time to discuss important annual health screenings.
Talk about what preventative services Medicare and their private health insurance will cover. Send follow-up emails with more detailed information about Medicare and preventative services. It can be complicated to understand, so offering more information and education can help your clients understand their benefits.
Explain to your seniors how to use their benefits so they can make the most of their insurance — and have the important preventative services to help them live longer and healthier lives.
How Do I Learn More?
To learn more about preventative services seniors should consider, contact us at American Senior Benefits. Our affiliated experts will be happy to answer any questions you have.
