You might associate aging with grey hair, wrinkles and forgetting why you left your house in the first place. These things are undoubtedly scary but getting old means so much more than that. In your late 50s and 60s, you will be caught off guard with unique health concerns that you never had to worry about all your life.

So, what do you do? Well, you cannot press some buttons to stop aging, but you can be well prepared for it. Here are the 5 primary health concerns that you must be prepared to deal with in your old age-

• Cognitive problems
  Dementia is one of the most common cognitive syndrome that old people experience. At that age, the brain finds it difficult to carry out functions like thinking, remembering, and memorizing. Alzheimer’s is one of the most common forms of dementia that old people experience. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to prevent dementia or Alzheimer’s. But there is always a way in which you can delay and forestall the onset of the disorder.
• Arthritis
  Arthritis is one of the most common concerns in 60-year olds and above. One of the main reasons for this is all the reckless things you have done in your youthful years. The several ligament injuries you got during your football practices or in case of most girls, the six inch stilettos you could not live without, are all coming back to make you regret. It is advisable to see a doctor immediately if you suspect you have arthritis. Also, make sure that you indulge in a low impact workout for improving the joint health.
• Falls
  Another common reason for emergency hospital visits in case of old people are the sudden falls and physical injuries. This is because your body is giving up on you at that age and you experience lack of balance. By making sure that your house is senior people friendly i.e. it is free from slippery rugs and floors, sufficient vitamin D intake, and exercising regularly, you can prevent the falls.
• Loss of bladder control
  You might have noticed that your grandparents or other senior people around you often experience incontinence i.e. they are not able to control their bladder or defecation. It gets quite embarrassing for the elderly people to openly discuss this situation. But this health concern should not be ignored. With medications, diet changes, regular workouts and by maintaining a steady body weight, the situation can be brought under control.
• Depression
  It is surprising to know that depression is another common health concern for senior people. Unfortunately, depression is often left unaddressed and untreated when it comes to the elder population. Depression is often a side effect in these cases because of the chronic health conditions that they suffer from. By leading an active lifestyle and encouraging them to spend more time with their loved ones, depression can be tackled successfully in these cases.

If you are in your mid-life and have not crossed the dreadful 60s, now is the best time to give your health top priority and to do whatever you can to prevent, minimize or stall the onset of the age-related health concerns.