Many Americans struggle with obesity, but carrying excess weight can create particular problems for people who are aging. According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 13 million people over the age of 65 are obese.
Individuals who are aging in place often have greater physical demands than those who live in care facilities. One of the benefits of remaining in one's lifelong home is being able to collect the mail, perform tasks around the house and engage in other activities of daily living. As a result, overweight people who are aging in place should utilize programs that help keep weight issues in check.
One resource that's available through Medicare and the Affordable Care Act is obesity counseling. Under the federal coverage, patients can conference with their doctors about the best strategies for losing weight and optimizing health. Some critics have said the measure limits access to more appropriate specialists in weight management.
"The problem with using only primary care providers is that [bill architects] completely ruled out direct reimbursement for the population of providers who are uniquely qualified and experienced working with weight management. I think that was a big mistake," Bonnie Modugno, a registered dietician in Santa Monica, California, told NPR.
However, primary care physicians can be very effective aides to losing weight. The problem, research shows, is that many people over 65 don't take advantage of that service. If weight management is a problem for you or the care recipient in your life, consider pursuing counseling through available avenues. Losing weight can improve self esteem and quality of life, which can lead to satisfaction and confidence.
At Independa, our intuitive Angela™ platform connects caregivers with care recipients to discuss important aspects of aging in place. Through the convenience of an LG TV or any other HDMI-enabled television equipped with our AnyTV Companion, users can have important discussions about weight, health and other wellness matters.
