93 What is ideal blood pressure as you age? Search the Internet to find out. What is meant by the term good and bad cholesterol ? In Italy, women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year. Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year. Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. to chew: masticare mole: neo to resume: rincominciare retirement: pensione underlying: sottostante whole grains: cibi integrali NEEDS Elderly people have a unique set of needs. It is important to understand them to make sure old people are both physically and emotionally cared for: it is at this stage of life that most of us require more care and support. Social and emotional needs No matter our age, we all have social and emotional needs. Satisfying them can improve an elderly person s quality of life and help protect against illness and depression. Depression, in fact, is a very usual outcome among the elderly who live alone. Moreover, retirement can also bring about some significant mental health issues, since one of the needs of seniors is to continue to feel useful and valued. Some of the things that can be done is to ask the elderly for advice, giving them a space to express how they feel about how things are done, invite them to try new activities, or suggest resuming a hobby or passion that had been put aside for work. Regular physical activity, a healthy diet, and medications (when necessary) can help manage these risks and maintain physical and emotional strength and balance. Prevention and regular check-ups Monitoring how the body changes through regular health check-ups is crucial to detecting underlying conditions in the early stage and maintaining the quality of life. Besides vaccinations, some screening tests recommended for the elderly are the following: blood pressure checks (64% of men and 69% of women aged between 65-74 have high blood pressure); 190 ADULTS AnD ELDERLY PEOPLE blood tests to check cholesterol and triglyceride levels to help decrease the risk of developing a stroke or heart attack; screening tests for diabetes; hearing and eye tests; skin checks, especially if new or suspicious moles develop; blood tests, to check the function of the thyroid gland which regulates metabolism; bone density scans; vitamin D tests for nutrient deficiencies; gynaecological and andrological examinations. Women in particular should have a regular self-breast exam ; cancer screening tests. Diet Some of age-related problems can be prevented with a healthy and balanced diet. A slower metabolism, changes in taste and smell, chewing problems, and more difficult digestion may lead to a change in diet, but consuming fibre-rich food such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables will help old people feel more energetic and help everyday bodily functions. Drinking plenty of fluids is also crucial since older adults are more prone to dehydration.