Medic urges structured healthcare plan for ageing parents

Renowned health coordinator, Dr Akinlawon Olamide has urged families caring for ageing parents to adopt structured healthcare plans to help them balance the demands of work, family, and caregiving.

Olamide, a medical practitioner, noted that many adults were increasingly finding themselves responsible for ageing parents while pursuing careers and raising their own children.

He stressed that caring for an elderly parent often involved more than taking the person to the hospital, as families might also have to manage medications, schedule appointments, coordinate specialist consultations and monitor existing health conditions.

According to him, these responsibilities can become particularly challenging for working adults with demanding professional schedules and family commitments.

“Families naturally want the best for their ageing parents, but many are also managing careers, raising children and fulfilling other important responsibilities,” Olamide said.

The medic who gave the advise in an interview with Arewa PUNCH on Wednesday said having a structured approach to geriatric care could help families better understand the health needs of older relatives and make informed decisions about their wellbeing.

“Having a structured approach to geriatric care helps provide greater clarity about an older adult’s health needs and enables families to make informed decisions while supporting their loved ones’ wellbeing,” he added.

Olamide, meanwhile, explained that ageing could come with more complex healthcare needs, particularly for people living with chronic health conditions, thus, making regular medical assessments and preventive care important.

“Regular health assessments are important because they help us understand changes in an older person’s health and identify concerns early, before they become more serious,” he said.

He said geriatric care should go beyond treating immediate illnesses to include assessments of an older person’s physical health, mobility, cognitive function, nutrition, medication management and emotional wellbeing.

“Geriatric care should look at the person as a whole. We have to consider not only their medical conditions, but also their mobility, nutrition, mental wellbeing, medications and the support available to them,” Olamide said.

The doctor said such assessments could help identify potential health concerns early, monitor changes in an older person’s condition and facilitate timely intervention.

“Families should not wait until there is an emergency before they begin planning for the healthcare needs of their ageing parents. Preventive care gives us an opportunity to act early and plan better,” he said.

He noted that long working hours and other daily demands could make it difficult for some families to consistently manage the healthcare needs of elderly relatives, thus, further highlighting the importance of organised care.

The medical coordinator at OneHealth by AXA’s Victoria Island Medical Centre disclosed that the centre has introduced a Geriatric Wellness Package aimed at providing comprehensive healthcare support for older adults.

He said the package included vital signs and anthropometric measurements, medical assessments, functional and wellness evaluations, laboratory investigations, cancer screening, social support assessments, post-test reviews and consultations.

The package also provides access to telemedicine services, according to the doctor.

The medic pointed out that proactive healthcare could help older adults maintain their independence, manage existing health conditions and improve their quality of life.

He advised families supporting ageing parents to plan their healthcare needs rather than waiting until medical problems became emergencies.

For adults balancing career, children, and ageing parents, he said structured geriatric care could provide more consistent support while helping families make informed decisions about the health and wellbeing of their elderly relatives.