Senior Wellness & Prevention
As we get older it is important to keep up with wellness checks and preventative care. Primary Care Partners of South Bend recommends that seniors receive a yearly checkup to ensure their health is the best it can be. Daily healthy choices and routine care are the keys to senior wellness and prevention. For more general information regarding senior wellness and prevention, please speak with your provider or contact our office.
Wellness Checks
During these annual visits, the doctor performs a physical exam to assess vitals and physical health. The doctor will check your overall health by taking your vitals, checking your heart, lungs, skin, eyesight, and general appearance. The doctor will be able to answer any of your questions and concerns, and determine if further screening or care is necessary for any area. You may also receive any recommended vaccinations. All of these are essential in keeping your body healthy and preventing injuries, cancer, or disease.
Staying Healthy
Staying healthy is important throughout our entire lives. As we get older, eating a well-balanced diet and staying active is essential to mental and physical health. Retiring or family moving away can be hard, so it is important to continue finding hobbies and staying social. It is also important to know the dangers of alcohol and be cautious of the amount that you intake. Aging does not have to mean declining in health or ability, so maintaining senior wellness is just as important now as it has ever been.
Mental Health
Mental health is just as important as physical health and is essential to our overall well-being. It is important to address mental health as a senior as life changes continue to happen. Primary Care Partners of South Bend offers several mental wellness assessments and counseling options. It is important to us that we monitor our patients’ mental health throughout their entire lives to ensure a healthy mindset.
Specialty Services
At Primary Care Partners of South Bend, we offer care across many areas. This is because we believe in a holistic approach to health. To keep your skin in good condition and to check any abnormal moles or marks, we offer dermatology services. Our staff is skilled in lesion assessment, removal, and testing. As a senior, it can be more common to have joint pain which can make it harder to move around. Our musculoskeletal medicine can help alleviate your joint pain and get moving comfortably and safely again. Additionally, we offer gynecology services like pap exams and colonoscopies. To schedule an appointment in any of these areas, request one online or give us a call at (574) 251-1200.
Preventative Exams
As our bodies age, we become more susceptible to injury and illness. At Primary Care Partners of South Bend, we offer and recommend regular screenings for seniors. Beginning at age 50, you should have a colonoscopy every five years. Around age 65, a bone density scan is recommended to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Routine hearing and eyesight tests are also important. Thyroid function testing may be recommended if you experience symptoms such as heart flutters, weight changes, or hand tremors. We also offer laboratory testing, including hemoglobin, diabetes, and urinalysis labs, to help diagnose common conditions.
As a senior, vaccinations such as those for influenza, shingles, and pneumonia become increasingly important. Booster doses of vaccines received earlier in life may also be recommended. To learn which screenings or vaccinations may be appropriate for you, contact us online or call Primary Care Partners of South Bend at (574) 251-1200. Our mission is to treat every patient with high-quality care and the respect and dignity they deserve.
