Maintaining your health is crucial at every stage of life, but for the elderly, regular doctor’s appointments are especially necessary. If you’re taking care of a senior relative, it could be challenging to find time to schedule wellness checks for them. To learn more about the benefits of wellness visits, and when you should book them, consider the brief guide below.

Why Should Seniors Get Wellness Checks?

Senior adults require more health services than younger adults. Forgetting a checkup is usually not a big deal for young people, but regular doctor’s appointments are necessary for catching potential health problems in elderly individuals. Preventive care is the best way to live a long and healthy life. The sooner health risks are identified, the more care a senior can receive to manage it. Wellness checks also provide the opportunity to discuss prescriptions with the doctor. Many older adults have medications they take daily to manage long-term conditions, but they sometimes come with side effects or don’t perform well with other prescriptions. During the wellness appointment, the doctor will discuss all of the medications and make adjustments to the dosage as needed. 

How Often Should Seniors Schedule Doctor’s Appointments?

Ideally, people over the age of 40 should have wellness visits at least once every two years to assess their overall health. However, aging adults over 65 should schedule doctor's appointments once a year. During these visits, the doctor will go over their family’s medical histories, and conduct routine screenings to check hearing, sight, weight, and blood pressure. Additional screenings may include bone density scans for women over 65 and colon cancer screenings, depending on medical and family history. Vaccinations are also crucial for maintaining health in seniors. Every 10 years, seniors need tetanus-diphtheria vaccines, but they should have flu shots once a year. 

If your elderly loved one needs medical transportation to their doctor’s appointments, reach out to the team at Agape Transportation Management. As the leading non-emergency medical transport company in the Bronx, NY, their staff is dedicated to getting patients throughout New York City and Westchester County to and from their medical appointments safely and on time. Their vehicles are wheelchair-accessible and incredibly comfortable. Call (718) 585-2222 today to request a ride or visit them online for more information about their services.