Planning for Healthy Aging Infographic

Take a lifespan approach to planning for healthy aging. Creating healthy habits – such as good nutrition, access to education, and engaging in stimulating activities – and continuing them throughout life’s stages provides people with the best chance of being happy and healthy into old age. Ensure that your family member has regular recommended health checks. You can find guidance on this by checking out the Primary Care Guidelines on the website for Surrey Place Center.

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Strengthen Social Networks

As challenging as it may sometimes seem, it is also important to assist your family member in developing increasing and well-established social networks of family and friends so they will have people who know them well, engage them in life and help to advocate for their well being.

Capture Their Story

Work together with your family member to create a Life Story and keep it a living, breathing document.

The NTG-EDSD

•Documents both functional and cognitive abilities as well as health history.

•No special training required; the manual helps explain each section.

•The NTG-EDSD and Manual are available in multiple languages for free. Download from the NTG website: www.the-ntg.org/ntg-edsd

•Have a look at it and decide if it will suit your purposes.

If you decide to use the NTG-EDSD

•Remember it is NOT a diagnostic tool, it simply documents functional and cognitive abilities over time to help identify changes.

•If there are concerns about changes that become apparent in completing the form, make an appointment to see a healthcare provider to discuss the changes.

•Highlight the NTG-EDSD section(s) on the form that are concerning and bring this to the appointment.

•If your healthcare provider is not familiar with the NTG-EDSD, bring a copy of the NTG-EDSD Manual to the appointment.

A video alongside the NTG-EDSD would be a good personal record of abilities.

•Use a cell phone or video to make short recordings of the person.

•Select tasks the person is familiar with and able to do.

•Include some tasks to illustrate: gait/ambulation (aided or unaided as necessary), an activity of daily living, a fine motor task, and language/ communication

•Annual updates should be a repeat of the original tasks recorded.

Keep the personal record of abilities in a safe place and update it on an annual basis unless on a more often basis is required to monitor a change.

Risk Factors

•Poor vision

•Hearing loss

•Poor footcare: bunions, corns, etc.

•Osteoporosis

•Psychotropic and anti-seizure medications taken on a long-term basis

•Poor balance and weak muscles

Environmental and Pyschological Factors

•Slippery floors

•Loose carpets or unstable rugs

•Poor lighting

•Poorly fitting footwear

•Seat heights that are too low, including beds, chairs and toilets

•Clutter

•Fear from a previous fall

Environmental Improvements

•Identify and remove clutter in and around the home

•Add non-slip treads for bare wooden steps

•Install shower and tub grab bars in the bathroom, around the toilet and the tub, handrails

•Place non-slip mats on the shower floor and bathtub

•Secure or remove loose rugs

•Keep objects that are used often within easy reach

•Make home lighting brighter, but prevent glare

Additional Considerations

Regular medication review

Regular medication review for side effects and interactions

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Risk Factors

•Impaired mobility/weight bearing

•Low calcium intake

•Lack of exercise

•Age and body weight

•Psychotropic and anti-seizure medications taken on a long-term basis

•Fall history

•Postmenopausal women

•Medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, hyper-thyrodism and neurological disorders

Detection

85% of fractures in people with developmental disabilities involve extremities like the thighbone, hands and feet. Since people can’t always self-report, pay special attention to the possibility of a fracture if someone is acting out of the ordinary.

Tips for prevention

Maintain a healthy body weight

Being under or overweight is damaging to bone health

Maintain a healthy diet

Calcium, protein and vitamin D are three key nutrients for bone health

Get active

Being active and exercising support strong bones

Screening and assessments

•Screening should begin before the age of 50

•For assessments, try a hand or forearm scan rather than x-rays, which can be difficult or frightening for some individuals