Mentation, A Foundation Of Healthy Aging
[ photo by Seda Tekemen ]
Mentation, a foundation of healthy aging.
I want to continue my mini series on the multifaceted approach to health aging used by both The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. In the previous two weeks I have addressed monitoring health and mobility.
Moving into this week, I want to talk about mentation. Mentation includes both one’s cognitive function and her ability to make her own decisions or at least have a part in decision making.
There are other important factors in mentation, but let me stop for a minute to reiterate the importance of cognitive screening. As I mentioned in my earlier post, Healthy Aging, medicare’s annual health screen can be a start to the screening for any cognitive dysfunction. If your aging parent has evidence of cognitive dysfunction, then further testing will be ordered by his PCP.
(Related blog post: What Is Geriatric Psychiatry?)
Shared decision making.
Let’s return to your loved one’s autonomy in decision making. This can be a tough one as our parents age and their burden of care falls more on us or another caregiver. As caregivers, be cautious to not fall into the habit of making all of the decisions for aging loved ones in the way we do for our children.
As long as one is able to express his wants/desires, allow him to express his wishes. There might be times when the caregiver must make the final decision, especially when it involves his safety or the safety of those around him. If it is a simple decision, however, it is good for your loved one to feel heard and to know that his wishes are still being carried out.
(Related blog posts: Caring For Dementia Caregivers, Respite Care Services)
Evaluate sight and hearing.
Another important factor in mentation is making sure your loved one’s hearing and vision are in the best working order. Studies have shown that the presence of hearing and/or visual impairments place older adults at an increased risk of dementia.
Full eye and hearing exams should be performed every one to two years after the age of 65. I am sure each of you have been involved in a conversation where you were not able to either hear or see everything that was being communicated. It made it hard to engage, I am sure, and if it lasted long enough, you probably just checked out of the conversation completely.
If your loved one has a hearing or vision issue that has not been addressed, then she is probably consistently not involved in conversations and the happenings of her surroundings. This can lead to isolation, which will impact her mentation.
(Related blog post: Isolating Elderly During The Pandemic)
Nutrition and exercise are important factors.
The final thing playing a role in mentation is one’s diet and physical activity. There are multiple studies providing evidence that individual choices in diet and exercise can impact one’s cognition and memory. Encourage your loved one to eat a healthy, well balanced diet, and continue to encourage your loved one to be active.
I think it is safe to say that most of us feel at our best when we are clear-headed and aware of our surroundings and various choice options. In that same way, our aging loved ones will likely feel their best when they are given the opportunity to be at their best possible cognitive levels too.
Feeling overwhelmed with the process?
Afraid you may not make the right decision at the right time? This stage of life for you and your aging parent often brings more questions than answers. Reading information from a trusted source like me can help guide you in the process. However, if you still feel overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I am happy to help with a personalized plan for your unique situation.
© 2021 Jessica Kluetz, DO