Over 1 million patients admitted to the hospital have a primary diagnosis of heart failure. After years of health promotion regarding heart failure, the incidence and mortality rate have changed very little (Vaduganathan & Gheorghiade, 2014). There are more than 550,000 new cases each year, and survival rates decrease as a patient ages (Roger, 2013). This article will discuss heart failure, signs and symptoms, prevention, and risk factors for this chronic disease.

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Maintaining proper oral health in the aging population is an important aspect of overall health and it allows older adults to maintain their quality of life, prevent and minimize oral discomfort, and detect oral diseases early. A healthy mouth is an important part of individuals’ communication abilities, smiling and socialization habits, nutritional status, and self-confidence. The purpose of this article is to discuss age-related changes of the mouth and common oral health problems for the aging adult and to provide education on proper oral care techniques and the importance of implementing them daily. This article will also discuss information for caregivers regarding how to provide oral care for a dependent individual.

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The purpose of this article is to describe how to perform a thorough skin assessment, the importance of assessing the skin monthly, and to describe ways to protect the skin. Skin health is essential for a person’s well-being throughout the lifespan (Cowdell, 2010). Skin cancer is the most common cancer with approximately 1,000,000 people developing the disease each year (Kuhrik, Seckman, Kuhrik, Ahearn, & Ercole, 2011).  As the skin ages, it is more difficult for the skin to serve as a barrier and skin breakdown may become more evident.  It is important to examine the skin carefully, assessing for new or changing appearance of skin characteristics, including lesions, and moles.

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A diagnosis of high blood pressure by a physician can be a frightening and challenging aspect of one’s health.  High blood pressure is often referred to Hypertension by healthcare providers.  After diagnosis, the management of high blood pressure is a combination of different medications and lifestyle modifications. Read More…