Need for Mediclaim for senior citizens

Once in a while when we onboard a member we realize that he/ she is not covered by any mediclaim policy. The situation becomes particularly acute if the concerned individual happens to be more than 75 years of age. At that juncture, to the best of our experience, a new policy cannot be started!

Hence, it is advisable to start a mediclaim policy in one’s name well in advance. Although a hefty premium may have to be paid annually depending on the coverage yet it is worth going for the same.

With medical expenditure spiraling upwards every passing year, in the absence of a suitable coverage under mediclaim ends up burning a hole in one’s pocket. More so, as one has to meet the expenses from one’s own savings the corpus money for old age also gets depleted. This leads one to financial vulnerability in the long run if not in the immediate future.

Since such a situation too often becomes stressful for the concerned individual it results in procrastination of any medical intervention, or surgery which is perceived to be financially exorbitant. Unfortunately, such a step ultimately leads to complications resulting in fatal outcome.

Social media and customer review

Social media have now become an important engine for making, or breaking the reputation of an organization. Those entities which are out-and-out service oriented are particularly vulnerable.

We know that the range of customer expectations knows no bound. Hence, it is important to clarify what to expect and what not to. Yet it is never full-proof. Misunderstanding happens and cracks appear due to expectation reality mismatch. Often these lead to not-so pleasant outcome.

We have observed that at times if the equation between the customer and the service provider goes sour some really nasty comments can be posted about the latter by the former in social media. Unfortunately, on its basis hundreds of readers of the post form an opinion and start maligning the image of the organization further by sharing their views. Thus, in the melee we miss-out the version of story from the service provider!

If we connect the dots then it is not unusual to realize that at times such smearing campaign is resorted to with an intention to cause harm to the organization’s reputation which can at times be baseless but the readers are not aware of the same.

Hence, it is prudent not to form an opinion just because some one has posted a comment and that too a negative one. It is by far sensible to experience the quality of service provided by the said organization and draw one’s own conclusion.

A healthy plan for senior citizens

Proper diet and a healthy life go hand in hand, especially for older adults over the age of 65. According to reports by World Health Organization (WHO), a majority of the diseases that older people suffer are as a result of lack of proper diet.

For instance, fat in food is linked cancer of the prostate, colon, and pancreas. Degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes are also diet-related, more specifically with micronutrients.

Micronutrients deficiency is shared among the elderly due to factors such as reduced food intake and lack of variety in their diet.

Decreased Sensitivity

As you advance in age, your senses become numbed down; it takes more energy and time to trigger a stimulus. Your sense of smell and taste decreases reducing your appetite. In some cases, you may even have trouble differentiating fresh food from stale since your senses are compromised. This, without any doubt, would be detrimental to your health.

Medication Side Effects

Some medications cause nausea, reduced appetite, and change food tastes perceptions. In this case, the side effects can discourage you from eating, and you end up skipping meals.

Poor Dental Health

Dental issues are more likely to come up as you grow older such as missing teeth, receding gums that cause your teeth to be shaky, mouth sores, and jaw pain. All these factors make chewing painful and uncomfortable hence reducing the likelihood of taking healthy foods among seniors.

Lack of Finances

Older people have limited resources and worry more about money. They may, therefore, cut back on groceries and buy cheaper food, which, in most cases, is less nutritious. This lifestyle can result in many nutritional deficiencies.

Lack of Transportation

To shop for fresh cooking ingredients, you have to drive to the store, wait through heavy traffic, and park the car a distance from the door. If it’s raining or snowing, it’s even more challenging. Chances of slipping and falling are high. These activities may discourage you from going to shop altogether.

Physical Difficulty

Seniors become weaker with age, especially when dealing with conditions like arthritis and disability. Pain and poor physical strength can make simple tasks appear to be challenging. Performing basic functions like standing for long while cooking, carrying groceries, or even peeling a fruit may become daunting tasks.

Memory Loss

Memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease are fairly typical among seniors. A senior may forget to follow their recommended meal program or skip a meal or even forget to buy food from the store. This poses a nutritional challenge.

Depression

As you grow older, a lot of changes take place, (your children move away, you lose your friends and loved ones due to death, you feel lonely—especially if you live all by yourself, you experience physical changes). All these issues compounded can lead to depression. Seniors may become apathetic about their health and avoid eating. If left untreated, depression can lead to much more significant health problems.

Source: https://aging.com/elderly-nutrition-101-10-foods-to-keep-you-healthy/