Senior’s have common ailments that come about in their older years. It’s something none of us want to face, but that’s a part of life. Although, certain lifestyle changes can prevent various factors. Let’s tackle what the most common senior health concerns are.

The 2 Conditions Seniors Should Be Look Out For

Alzheimer’s Disease

An estimated 5.2 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, the world’s most common form of dementia and the sixth-largest cause of death in the United States. However, today’s statistics are only the tip of the iceberg. In 2025, as baby boomers begin to age and people live longer the number of people affected will reach 7 million — a 40% leap.

Alzheimer’s and many other forms of dementia result from neuronal damage in the brain, which affects their ability to communicate with each other. Over time, the death and malfunction of those neurons affects memory, learning, mood, behavior, and ultimately physical functions such as walking and swallowing.

Lifestyle Help

Healthy lifestyle choices can help avoid symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some ways you can start:

Keep moving

Numerous studies suggest that staying active may reduce the risk of AD, likely by increasing blood flow to the brain and improving the brain’s use of oxygen and glucose, as well as building denser blood vessels in the brain.

Follow a Mediterranean diet

That means lean protein with little, if any, red meat, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil as the primary fat and a little wine. Studies have found this type of diet might reduce the risk of AD regardless of how physically active you are or if you have any cardiovascular problems.

Challenge your brain

Studies have found that people who remain intellectually active are less likely to develop dementia, as are those who remain socially engaged. Activities to consider include taking classes just for the stimulation, learning a new language, reading challenging books and learning to play a musical instrument.

Osteoporosis

Osteporosis causes the bones to degenerate causing them to become porous – under a microscope a bone affected by osteoporosis often appears like honeycomb. While all bones are shaped in this way, there may be greater holes in a bone with osteoporosis, resulting in loss of density or mass.

Normal healthy bones consist of three major minerals: protein, calcium, and collagen – all of which contribute to maintaining strength and mass. A bone affected by osteoporosis can fracture, either by cracking or collapse because it lacks the mass required to maintain its structure.

Lifestyle Help

Lifestyle changes may include:

• quitting smoking
• cutting down on alcohol consumption
• getting regular exercise
• eating a balanced diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D

Fairmont Grand Senior Living Community

Fairmont Grand is a resident centered senior living and memory care facility in Rapid City, SD. Our goal is to create an environment where resident well-being is at the heart of everything we do.

Our wide range of services are designed to meet you or your loved one’s daily needs. We offer restaurant style dining options, a variety of physical activities, and give residents the opportunity to live as independently as possible.

If you or a loved one near Rapid City, South Dakota are considering assisted living or memory care, contact Fairmont Grand to learn more about individualized living options or tour our community.