The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continually monitors mortality rates in the United States to establish policies and prevention guidelines. Understanding the incidents and disease processes at the forefront of causing death enables the organization to alert seniors and their caregivers to potential hazards and create programs designed to better the health of citizens.
Heart Disease
According to statistics, 611,105 fatalities occur in the United States each year due to heart disease, which accounts for more than 23 percent of annual deaths. In terms of gender, heart disease claims the lives of 321,347 men and 289,758 women. Heart disease refers to many different cardiovascular conditions that include plaque buildup, angina, dysrhythmias, heart attack, and heart failure.
If your loved one is at risk for heart disease and needs help with maintaining a healthy diet and exercising safely, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Elderly home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Cancer
Cancer affects people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. However, the risk of developing malignancies increases with age, carcinogen exposure, genetic factors, and lifestyle. In 2015, there was an estimate of 1,658,370 new cases diagnosed and more than 589,000 fatalities due to cancer. The types of fatal cancers involved included:
- Lung – 86,380
- Gastrointestinal – 37,700
- Prostate – 27,540
- Pancreatic – 20,710
- Liver – 17,030
- Leukemia – 14,210
- Urinary – 11,510
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – 11,480
- Kidney – 9,070
Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Columbus seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Research performed by the American College of Chest Physicians revealed chronic respiratory disease processes cause more than 149,000 fatalities every year. Many of these maladies are classified as being chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, or COPD. These diseases include asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. The number of fatalities related to respiratory conditions are:
- Men – 70,317
- Women – 78,888
Additional causes of death ranking in the top 10 include:
- COVID-19
- Accidental injuries such as drug and alcohol overdoses
- Stroke and other vascular disease processes
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Diabetes
- Flu and pneumonia
- Kidney disease
Although life expectancy for women continues to surpass that for men, that margin dropped from 13.2 years to 4.8 years. Men of all ethnic backgrounds are living longer. The life expectancy for Caucasian women in particular has decreased.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional home care. Columbus families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place. If you need professional home care for your aging loved one, our Care Specialists are just a phone call away. Reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care today.
