Vulnerability in the elderly: How to limit?

The elderly are susceptible to many physical and mental health problems. Among them, the vulnerable syndrome in the elderly is the most common, but not many people know about it.

What is Vulnerability Syndrome?

Vulnerability syndrome is one of six very common geriatric syndromes. This is a clinical syndrome that occurs due to the accumulation of multiple organ system failure in the elderly. The syndrome predicts adverse health effects in the elderly, both physically and mentally, such as falls, disability, increased hospitalizations, and even death.

What are the symptoms of Vulnerability Syndrome?

If the elderly have 3 or more of the following symptoms, they are likely to be diagnosed with a vulnerable syndrome.

– Unexplained weight loss

– Constantly tired

– Poor physical activity, slow walking

– Decreased muscle strength

How to assess disease severity?

The fall risk assessment is one of the general examination methods that can indicate the severity of the vulnerability syndrome, which can be checked by:

Have the elderly sit on a chair and stand up by themselves to the destination (about 3m away from the chair) and then return to the chair.

The assessment time is calculated from when the elderly leave the chair to the destination and return to sit on the chair.

• If the total time is equal to or less than 10 seconds, the assessment participant has a low risk of falling
• In the total time from 15-20 seconds, the elderly have a high risk of falling
• If the total time is more than 20 seconds, the elderly people participating in the assessment need help because there is a high risk of falling

Causes of physical vulnerability syndrome in the elderly

Vulnerability syndrome in the elderly has many causes including:

• Race: Many studies show that older African-Americans are four times more likely to be vulnerable to the syndrome than whites.
• Co-morbidity: This is a term for one or more diseases (or disorders) associated with a disease that is considered to be the main disease.
• Unscientific living habits
• Poor diet

Complications of physical vulnerability syndrome

Vulnerability syndrome in the elderly often causes complications and damage to the body such as increased risk of falls, impaired functioning, even disability. The cause of these complications is that the patient has a decrease in the body’s ability to tolerate stress factors.

Causes of mental vulnerability in the elderly

In addition to being physically vulnerable, the elderly are also vulnerable to emotional trauma. There are many causes of this damage, including:

• Differences in lifestyle, thinking with generations in the family
• Children’s unskillful behavior in daily life
• Old people often think about or live in the past, old memories and regrets
• There is always a desire and expectation that your child will take care of and care for them every day and meet their own needs. When they do not meet expectations, the elderly easily feel disappointed and bored
• The elderly feel hurt when their health declines, lose their ability to work, and become a burden on their children
• Children go to work far away or are busy, engrossed in work and less interested in caring and sharing

How to reduce the risk of Vulnerability Syndrome

To reduce the risk of both physical and mental vulnerability, older adults and their families should:

• Applying a diet that is full of substances such as: fiber, vitamins, protein, healthy fats, minerals… From there, it helps to improve the body’s resistance.
• Make meals more appetizing, with foods that are soft, easy to chew, and easy to swallow.
• Divide the elderly’s meals into several small meals throughout the day for easy digestion and absorption.
• Regular physical activity with gentle exercises alone or with friends and family such as walking, aerobics, tai chi, yoga … to improve blood circulation, bones and joints more supple.
• Maintain clean body hygiene, wash hands often, keep warm and clean the nose and throat, wear a mask.
• Relieve stress and anxiety in life.
• Children and grandchildren need to create a close family atmosphere and consult with the elderly so that the elderly do not feel redundant and have no voice.
• Take time to care for the health of the elderly to promptly detect diseases and take care of them.

To limit the risk of vulnerability syndrome, older adults need to:

• Apply a nutritious diet that is full of substances such as fiber, vitamins, protein, healthy fats, minerals, etc.
• Be physically active with gentle exercises alone or with friends and family such as walking, aerobics, tai chi, yoga…
• Relieve stress and anxiety in life.

To best care for the elderly with a vulnerable syndrome, family and loved ones should take the time to care for them. This is extremely important in helping the elderly overcome health problems.