PREVENTATIVE CARE FOR OLDER ADULTS
More than half of adults 65 years of age and older are not up to date with the preventive services doctors recommend. Skipping these services can be dangerous as some diseases and conditions may not be found in time for effective treatment.
Preventive services include screenings, vaccinations, and health advice. The following preventive services are especially important for older adults:
• Annual wellness exam
• Cholesterol screening
• Diabetes screening
• High blood pressure screening
• Osteoporosis screening
• Influenza vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccines
• Breast cancer screening
• Colorectal cancer screening
Some questions for your doctor:
• How often do I need to have each screening?
• How is each screening done?
• Can I get all these tests done at my yearly wellness visit?
• Are there health factors that make me more likely to have a certain disease or condition?
If you have Medicare, be sure to schedule a yearly wellness visit with your doctor. At the visit, the doctor or nurse will give you a short written plan, like a checklist, to take home with you. This plan will include any screening tests and other preventive services that you’ll need over the next 5 to 10 years. With Medicare Part B, you can get a wellness visit once a year at no cost to you. Check to make sure the doctor or nurse accepts Medicare when you schedule your appointment.
Funding for this article was provided by
More than half of adults 65 years of age and older are not up to date with the preventive services doctors recommend. Skipping these services can be dangerous as some diseases and conditions may not be found in time for effective treatment.
Preventive services include screenings, vaccinations, and health advice. The following preventive services are especially important for older adults:
• Annual wellness exam
• Cholesterol screening
• Diabetes screening
• High blood pressure screening
• Osteoporosis screening
• Influenza vaccine
• Pneumococcal vaccines
• Breast cancer screening
• Colorectal cancer screening
Some questions for your doctor:
• How often do I need to have each screening?
• How is each screening done?
• Can I get all these tests done at my yearly wellness visit?
• Are there health factors that make me more likely to have a certain disease or condition?
If you have Medicare, be sure to schedule a yearly wellness visit with your doctor. At the visit, the doctor or nurse will give you a short written plan, like a checklist, to take home with you. This plan will include any screening tests and other preventive services that you’ll need over the next 5 to 10 years. With Medicare Part B, you can get a wellness visit once a year at no cost to you. Check to make sure the doctor or nurse accepts Medicare when you schedule your appointment.
Funding for this article was provided by
