Dr Rehana Noman

Assistant Professor
Dept: Of Family & Community Medicine
Unaizah College of Medicine

Health of elderly
 Objectives
ü Describe health problems in the elderly and
related factors.
ü Describe the special needs (physical, mental and
social) of the elderly
ü List the Community agencies that provide social
and health services for the aged population.
ü Explain the potential for disease prevention in
the elderly.
 Elderly

A person of 65 years and over is termed as

elderly or senior citizen.
Elderly Health Problems and
Related Factors.
 Health problems in the elderly and related
factors.
Ø Arthritis
Ø Hypertension
Ø Heart disease
Ø Hearing loss
Ø Influenza
Ø Injuries
Ø Orthopedic impairments
 Health problems in the elderly and related
factors.
Ø Cataracts &Visual impairment
Ø Chronic sinusitis
Ø Depression
Ø Cancer
Ø Diabetes mellitus
Ø Urinary incontinence
Ø Varicose veins:
Special Needs of the Elderly
Special needs of the elderly

Medical Psychol
ogical
Social Personal
care
1. Medical Needs of Elderly
Primary Prevention: Modification of
lifestyle

Secondary Prevention: Annual

preventive care visits
Primary Prevention
Purpose: Maintenance of Health
ü Active lifestyle
ü Good Nutrition
ü Exercise
Secondary Prevention
Annual Preventive care visits
Purpose: to prevent falls & accidents
ü Review of medications
ü Visual, hearing & cognitive assessment
ü Blood pressure measurement
ü Cholesterol screening
ü Screening of obesity & malnutrition
ü Osteoporosis prevention
ü Diabetes screening
ü Thyroid disease screening
ü Dental care
ü Substance abuse
ü Smoking prevention
ü Screening of Depression, Dementia,
Suicide
2. Psychological Needs of Elderly
Following Psychological problems needs to
addressed:
→ Good nutrition
1 - Elderly emotional responses characterized
→ Prevention of
by subjective feelings that lead to strange
depression, suicidal patterns of behavior like selfishness and
attempts.. stubborn behavior .
2 - Grief and sorrow by loss of a friend etc.
3 - Guilt caused by conflicts and past
incidents unfortunate.
4 - Loneliness due to poor social
relationships.
5 - Anxiety of death.
6 - The feeling of incompetence .
3. Social Problems & Needs of
Elderly
Social networks’ support
Following social issues needs to
→ Informal support:
Family & close friends be addressed:
→Semiformal support:
church/mosque group,
neighborhood 1 - Reduced social relations .
organization and clubs
→Formal support: social
welfare & services, health
2 - The loss of economic security.
care delivery agencies.
3 - Retirement, widowhood,
divorce.
4 - Leisure-time problems .
4. Personal care
1 – BODY CLEANING ( WASHING ,
REMOVE UNWANTED HAIR , TRIM
NAILS ) .
2 - CLEANING CLOTHING AND
LIVING PLACE .
3 - PROPER NUTRITION.
4 – COMPLIANCE OF
PHARMACEUTICAL PRESCRIPTION.
Community agencies that provide
social and health services (
governmental or non-governmental ) for
the aged population
Saudi Elderly
→ Islamic teachings based upon the
Holy Quran and prophet Muhammad
peace be upon him sayings govern
and guide behavior of Muslims.
→ Islam stress on familial support
and care for the elderly.
→ In Islam the caring for one’s
parents is a duty and a blessing.
 Institutional Care: social
and health services
Services and programs for seniors in the
Kingdom.
1 - Social Security program .
2 - Sheltered services program in social
care of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
3 - Charitable programs .
4 - Third - party programs and
government institutions.
5 - Programs as social centers like
Prince Salman Social center Riyadh.
6 - Special clubs and programs .
Governmental social security for Saudi
elderly
→Elderly (especially non-working women) and
men who were self employed such as animal
herders, farmers, fishermen, taxi drivers who
have no pensions and most are considered poor.
Some of those receive government assistance
through social security allowances which cover
only some of their needs.
The most important services that should be
provided for the elderly through these programs

FIRST: Medical services:

1 - Universal periodic examination
2 - Comprehensive medical treatment for all
diseases afflicting the elderly .
3 - Comprehensive medical rehabilitation for
physical disabilities .
4 - The provision of preventive and educational
services.
5 - Coordination and cooperation with medical
institutions and treatment centers
Second: Psychological Services :

1 - Treatment of psychological problems.

2 - Preventive and educational programs
related to the psychological needs of the
elderly and their problems, and how to
deal with it.
3 -Coordination and cooperation with
hospitals and treatment centers and
private clinics to treat the psychological
problems of the elderly .
4 - Follow cases and work for their
adaptation and psychological stability .
Third: Social Services

1 - Treatment of the social problems faced by

the elderly and their families .
2 - Strengthen the network of social relations
for the elderly members of their families and
their community.
3 - The provision of preventive and
educational programs related to social needs
of the elderly and their problems, and how
to deal with it.
4 - Coordination and cooperation with social
institutions, governmental and non -
governmental and charitable organizations
for the benefit of the elderly and their
families .
Fourth: Personal Care Services
Fifth: leisure-time services :
 Potential for Disease
Prevention in the Elderly
 Potential for disease prevention in the
elderly
ØElderly health problems are chronic in nature and they
can be addressed through primary and secondary
preventive strategies.
ØDisease prevention can improved functional abilities,
prevent and delay disease progression, improve the
overall health status of aging population.
ØThe outcome of Disease Prevention in elderly lead to
Decreased/ Minimized:
1. Morbidity, mortality, disability and decline in
independence.
2. Illnesses associated with aging & their related burden.
3. Chronic disease burden.
References
} Pediatric Primary Care, 5th edition.
} Blueprints Family medicine, chapter 74.
} Current Diagnosis & Treatment. Family Medicine, 3rd
edition, chapter 39.
} XTBOOK OF Preventive and social medicine , K. PARK
21st EDITION, UNIT 10 Pages 547,548.
} Profile data from 2004 Saudi Arabia population census,
Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Economy and Planning.
} A working paper on Programs and elderly care services in
the Kingdom, "Reality and ambitions“, Cultural Forum of
the Department of Education and Psychology, General
Administration of women's colleges in Riyadh, February
1426
} Executive Board of Health Ministers’ Council web; www.
http://sgh.org.sa/en-
us/technicalprograms/healthcare/elderlyhealthcare.aspx