Meet the healthcare team you'll need as you age

If Ringo Starr were to sing “I get by with a little help from my friends” today, he’d likely be referring to his GP, dentist, podiatrist, physio and occupational therapist. They are the team of healthcare professionals that you’ll need to familiarise yourself with as you age to ensure you enjoy a healthy and happy retirement.

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If Ringo Starr were to sing “I get by with a little help from my friends” today, he’d likely be referring to his GP, dentist, podiatrist, physio and occupational therapist. They are the team of healthcare professionals that you’ll need to familiarise yourself with as you age to ensure you enjoy a healthy and happy retirement.

As you get older, maintaining your freedom and independence feels more important than ever. It’s inevitable that you’re going to start noticing some wear and tear as the years go by, but there are plenty of precautions you can take to ensure you stay in good shape. If it helps, think of your body as a beautiful vintage car. As long as you take it for a regular tune-up, it will continue to get better with age.

Keep the pep in your step

Staying mobile is a key concern from many of us as we move into this next chapter of our lives. With that in mind, it may be time to make an appointment with the podiatrist. They play an important role in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions of the foot and ankle and will quite literally help you stay on your feet.

Melbourne-based podiatrist, Laura Gleich, explains that podiatrists play an important role in not only hands-on treatment of foot issues but also in the prevention of potential future issues.

“In identifying risk factors such as poor footwear choices [and] inappropriate nail cutting techniques and addressing them early, we can either reduce if not prevent further decline in future foot health,” she says.

“As we age, skin can become fragile and thin and thin skin that tears easily is a common problem in older adults. We can develop bone alignment changes such as bunions or arthritis and thus encounter difficulties undertaking basic foot care, which can lead to foot health issues and sometimes an increased risk of falls.”

It’s important to note that you don’t need to have a pre-existing issue or complaint to have a reason to visit a podiatrist. Just as you would often visit your GP, a regular examination of your feet as a precautionary measure could save you from a fall or even prevent an ulcer from forming, so not only is it beneficial to get checked, but it’s beneficial to get checked regularly.

“Visiting a podiatrist is a great way of having a second set of eyes check over the patient’s feet. Preventative treatment of concerns that may not always seem that important, if left untreated could lead to an ulcer or skin infection that may take a few years to heal,” says Gleich.

“For a lot of people, foot issues are a result of years of use and ultimately a podiatrist’s role is to keep people of all ages mobile and active.”

If the tooth be told

From your toes all the way up to your teeth, another health care professional you’re going to want to keep regular appointments with is your dentist. Professor Vasilios Chronopoulos at Dental Implants & Aesthetics in Queensland explains that maintaining good oral health means maintaining good general health.

“There are diseases of the mouth that can affect or are associated with a patient’s general health. For example, periodontitis or gum disease can be associated with cardiovascular disease. Keeping your oral health in check also means keeping good general health,” he says.

“Regular check-ups and cleans are important as there are ample diseases that have manifestations intra-orally. By attending regular check-ups, we are able to detect issues early such as periodontitis, sleep apnea and even oral cancer.

“One of the reasons people live longer today is because of good oral health. Maintaining teeth for life means a patient can retain their ability to chew and therefore gain important nutrients from foods.”

Denture discomfort is a common complaint among retirees.

“This is where we can really help patients by transforming a denture that moves around the mouth to an implant overdenture. This is where a denture is secured in place by dental implants. It is a big game changer for our patients as it restores their ability to eat the foods they want,” says Prof. Chronopoulos.

“Concerns from retirees are usually less to do with aesthetics but rather function of the teeth.”

One dream, one team

One of the best things about moving into a retirement or aged care community is that this team of professionals will either be working on-site or as part of a program of visiting health professionals. The idea is to look after your health holistically, including everything from social activities and help around the home, to eating fresh and healthy foods.Gillian Hirst, Executive Chef at Aveo Newstead in Queensland, says good nutrition is one of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to healthy ageing.

“We serve a lot of slow-cooked, beautiful and nutritious food. We maximise nutrition on every meal that we’re serving by really keeping it clean and simple,” she says.Staying independent might seem difficult to do as you get older, but you don’t have to do it alone. By driving that vintage car of yours to the right team of health professionals, you can look forward to a long and smooth road ahead.

From your GP to your OP, Aveo communities are made up a wide range of staff to make our residents lives easier. If you want to ensure you, or your loved one, are looked after as they age then Aveo’s new Certainty contract gives you the freedom to step up to a higher level of care if your circumstances change. Retire with certainty, only at Aveo. Click to learn more.

Originally published as Meet the healthcare team you'll need as you age