Changing Bad Habits Good for Seniors
By Debbie Seplow from the Home Instead Senior Care office in the Greater Phoenix area, including Scottsdale and Sun Cities.
My 80-year-old father still smokes a lot and says that he's so old, it doesn't matter whether or not he quits. Is that true?
Please let your dad know about research that was presented at a recent American Geriatric Society meeting, which reveals that changing bad habits such as smoking can positively impact a senior's health even later in life.
The study followed 2,000 seniors who were current and past smokers and those who had never smoked. The three groups were compared after five years to see if there was a link between smoking and the speed at which participants walked. It was discovered that smokers showed a significantly slower pace in their gait than those who had previously smoked.
Smoking and excessive alcohol intake is proven to have negative health effects on a person at any age, but seniors who smoke and drink regularly increase their chances of more advanced medical problems, according to Dr. Alison Moore, an associate professor, Division of Geriatrics, UCLA School of Medicine.
So even at an older age, making health improvements is beneficial. Why not check in your dad's community about the smoking cessation programs that are available. If he is on Medicare and is diagnosed with a smoking-related disease, including heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), multiple cancers, lung disease, weak bones, blood clots, and cataracts, he could get coverage for smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling.
Medicare will cover up to eight face-to-face visits during a 12-month period. These visits must be ordered by your father's doctor and provided by a qualified doctor or other Medicare-recognized practitioner. Your father would pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount after he meets the yearly Part B deductible.
Perhaps your dad could benefit from more activity. Why not encourage him to renew interest in some of his favorite activities? After he quits smoking, your father could consider volunteering or a part-time career caring for other seniors. Home Instead Senior Care hires CAREGivers to go into the homes and care communities of older adults to help with meal preparation and light housekeeping.
Hopefully it will encourage your father to know that it is possible to change bad habits, even at age 80.
