It’s common for people to give themselves a quick once over in the mirror when they are brushing their teeth and washing their faces. But seniors should be doing a little more thorough of an exam. Seniors should be checking certain features every day. Small changes in their appearance could indicate changes in their health that could be an issue. In-home rehabilitation services could offer them guidance on what to look for and how to address it.
Seniors should pay close attention to these five things when they look in the mirror every morning:
Throat
Seniors should be checking their throat daily to look for any changes like a swollen area, a lump, or any kind of sagging. Seniors who experience loss of muscle tone in their throat or who have had a stroke may need speech therapy offered through in-home rehabilitation to help them preserve their ability to speak clearly and to swallow. If your senior parent notices any bumps, drooping, or changes in their throat they should consider starting speech therapy to preserve their health.
Skin
Changes in a senior’s skin could indicate things like liver problems if there is a yellowish cast to the skin or lung problems if the skin looks blue. Dry skin, cracked skin, red skin, and small moles or sarcomas can also indicate health problems. When seniors are washing their faces and checking their arms and legs they should pay close attention to the condition of their skin. A good time for seniors to get in the habit of checked their skin is when they moisturize their skin either in the morning or after a shower or a bath.
Eyes
Changes in the eyes can indicate dry eyes, diabetes, glaucoma, and other eye-related disorders. Seniors should look closely at their eyes everyday to check for redness, dryness, dark circles, dullness, or yellowing in the eyes. If seniors notice any changes in their eyes or their vision they should make an appointment with an eye doctor right away. If the eye doctor thinks the problem is something else they can refer seniors to another specialist.
Hair
Dull hair, greasy hair, or hair that’s falling out can indicate nutritional deficiencies such as malnourishment or dehydration. And seniors may also experience changes in their hair because of illnesses like cancer. When seniors are brushing their hair each day they should check the texture of their hair and notice how much hair is coming out on the brush. Losing a few strands of hair is normal, but losing a lot of hair is not normal. That could indicate a serious health problem.
Mouth
Seniors should be checking their mouths, teeth, and tongue when they brush and floss. Changes in gum health can be caused by periodontal disease or even thrush. Seniors should take their dental health seriously. And seniors who smoke or who did smoke for many years should be looking for signs of any tumors or oral cancer. If seniors experience any pain or see something that doesn’t look right they should contact the dentist right away.
If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Rehabilitation Services in Huntington NY, please get in touch with the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and in NYC including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stonybrook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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