Age, family genetics, and gender make it nearly impossible for older adults to avoid becoming a chronic disease statistic. According to NCOA research, 94.9% percent of adults age 60 and older have at least one condition, while 78.7% have two or more.¹ You probably have a parent or grandparent who is managing a condition right now, or perhaps you are managing one yourself.

And obesity, which impacts about 42% of adults 60 and older,² can increase your risk for conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.³ 

With these kinds of odds, you might wonder if there is anything you can do to prevent the onset of a chronic medical condition, or make managing an existing one easier. The answer is yes. 

Here are 10 common chronic conditions adults 65+ on Medicare were treated for in 2018,⁴ and what you should know about each. While you're learning more about how live with one of these chronic conditions, you might want to consider a medical alert monitoring system to help maintain independence.

Number 10: Alzheimer's disease and dementia

Nearly 12% of older adults on Medicare were treated for Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is one specific type of dementia—a condition that causes memory loss and difficulty thinking or problem-solving to the point that it interferes with every day activities. Dementia is not a normal part of aging and is caused by changes in the brain over time.

The biggest risk factors for these chronic conditions are things you often can't control, including age, family history, and genetics. But studies have suggested incorporating the following habits into your lifestyle could slow or prevent onset:

• Exercise. Staying active isn't just good for your heart; it's also great for your brain.
• Sleep. Your brain does important stuff while you are sleeping, so getting at least 7 hours of deep sleep a night is crucial. Upgrading to the best mattress for you could help.
• Be smart about your diet. Research suggests that some foods can negatively affect your brain.

Number 9: Depression

Sixteen percent of older adults sought treatment for depression—a treatable medical condition that is not a normal part of aging. Depression causes persistent feelings of sadness, pessimism, hopelessness, fatigue, difficulty making decisions, changes in appetite, a loss of interest in activities, and more.

Steps you can take to help with depression include:

• Manage stress levels. Reach out to family and friends during rough spells and consider regular meditation.
• Eat a healthy diet. What you put into your body can affect your mood, so focus on foods that are high in nutrients and promote the release of endorphins and those "feel good" chemicals, and limit consumption of things like alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and highly processed foods.
• Routine exercise. Exercise has a number of physical and psychological benefits, including improving your mood through the release of endorphins and other "feel good" brain chemicals, boosting self-confidence and self-worth through meeting goals and improving your physical appearance, and increased socialization through interactions at gyms and group classes.
• Talk to your doctor. If you've experienced any of the warning signs of depression, talk to your doctor, and ask about your treatment options. Antidepressant medications or psychotherapy could be right for you.

If you’re in severe emotional distress, one of the first things you should do is tell someone else about it—such as a trusted friend or family member. You can also dial or text 988 from your phone to speak with a counselor who is specially trained in suicide prevention. The 988 service is free, confidential, and available to everyone in the United States 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Number 8: Heart failure

About 5% of older adults were treated for heart failure—a condition that occurs when the heart cannot adequately supply blood and oxygen to all of the organs in the body. The heart might become enlarged, develop more muscle mass, or pump faster in order to meet the body’s needs, causing you to feel tired, light headed, nauseous, confused, or lack an appetite.

Steps you can take to prevent or diminish symptoms of heart failure:

• The best prevention is to follow a doctor's recommendations to decrease your risk for coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.

Number 7: Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

Nearly 25% of older adults were treated for chronic kidney disease (CKD) or a slow loss in kidney function over time. People dealing with CKD have an increased risk for developing heart disease or kidney failure.

Steps you can take to prevent or diminish symptoms of CKD:

• Understand what damages your kidney. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the greatest risk factors for kidney damage, so taking steps to prevent these diseases is your best strategy.
• Early detection and treatment. Talk to your doctor regularly, stay current on screenings, and keep up on prescriptions you need to diminish symptoms.

6: Diabetes

Twenty-seven percent of older adults were treated for diabetes—a disease that occurs when your body is resistant to, or doesn’t produce enough, insulin. Insulin is what your body uses to get energy from food, and distributes it to your cells. When this doesn’t happen, you get high blood sugar, which can lead to complications such as kidney disease, heart disease, or blindness. Chances of having diabetes increases after age 45.

Steps you can take to keep you from developing diabetes or to manage this condition:

• Eating a healthy diet, including monitoring your carbohydrate and calorie intake, and talking to your doctor about alcohol consumption.
• Exercising for 30 minutes five times a week to keep your blood glucose levels in check, and to control weight gain.
• Safely losing 5-7% of body weight if you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

Number 5: Ischemic heart disease (or coronary heart disease)

Nearly 29% of older adults were treated for ischemic heart disease—a condition that is caused by a build-up of plaque that narrows the arteries leading to the heart. Narrow or blocked arteries decreases the amount of oxygen-rich blood delivered to the heart. This can cause other complications like blood clots, angina, or a heart attack.

Steps you can incorporate to help if you have ischemic heart disease:

• Avoid saturated and trans fats, and limit sugar and salt intake
• Get seven to eight hours of sleep each night
• Keep your stress levels in check
• Do regular cardio exercises
• Abstain from smoking
• Talk to your doctor about the major risk factors, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure

Number 4: Arthritis

About 35% of older adults were treated for arthritis—an inflammation of your joints, which causes pain and stiffness and is more common in women.

Steps you can take to delay the onset of arthritis or manage the symptoms:

• Exercise at least five times per week, for 30 minutes each time, to improve function and decrease pain. Try to include a mixture of aerobic, strength-building, and stretching movements.
• Stay within the recommended weight for your height—losing one pound can remove four pounds of pressure on your knees.
• Make sure your back, legs, and arms are always supported.
• Take precautions to avoid joint injuries.
• Do not smoke.

Number 3: Obesity

About 40% of adults 65 and older are living with obesity, a chronic disease linked to more than 200 chronic conditions. NCOA is pressing to define quality obesity care as a universal right. That includes the right to coverage for treatment with access to the full range of treatment options.

Tips for addressing obesity include:

• Understanding what obesity treatments are covered by Medicare 
• Empowering yourself with knowledge about nutrition
• Educating others and being your own advocate

Number 2: High cholesterol

More than 50% of older adults were treated for high cholesterol—a condition that occurs when your body has an excess of bad fats (or lipids), resulting in your arteries getting clogged, which can lead to heart disease.

Steps you can take to prevent or manage high cholesterol:

• Abstain from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Be active each day
• Manage your weight
• Minimize saturated fats and trans fats in your diet

Number 1: Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Nearly 60% of older adults were treated for hypertension—a common condition that involves both how much blood your heart pumps, as well as how resistant your arteries are to the blood flow. When your heart pumps a lot of blood, and you have narrow arteries which resist the flow, that’s when you get high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. The danger of hypertension is not only that you can have it for years and not know it, but it can cause other serious health conditions, like stroke and heart attacks.

Steps you can take to prevent or reduce high blood pressure:

• Maintaina healthy weight. Losing just 10 pounds can reduce blood pressure
• Regulate your stress levels
• Limit salt and alcohol consumption
• Exercise daily, including a combination of moderate to vigorous-intensity aerobic activities, flexibility and stretching, and muscle strengthening
• Check your blood pressure regularly—the quicker you catch pre-hypertension, the more likely you are to prevent high blood pressure

Other common chronic conditions for older adults

Another common chronic conditions for adults 65+ is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes two main conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD makes it hard to breathe and causes shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness.

Steps you can take to manage COPD include:

• The best way to prevent COPD—or slow its progression—is to quit or avoid smoking. Also try to avoid secondhand smoke, chemical fumes, and dust, which can irritate your lungs.
• If you already have COPD, complete the treatments that your doctor has prescribed, get the flu and pneumonia vaccines as recommended by your doctor, and continue to remain active.

When these tactics aren’t enough to help with your chronic condition

The above tips can help you avoid or successfully manage a chronic condition. However, if you or someone you know is struggling to manage a chronic condition, there are programs in your community that can help, like the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP). CDSMP is a six-week, interactive, small-group workshop that helps participants build the skills necessary to control how chronic conditions affect their life.

CDSMP workshop sessions focus on the following topics:

• Dealing with fatigue, pain, frustration, or isolation
• Maintaining strength, flexibility, and endurance
• Managing medications
• Communicating with family, friends, and health professionals
• Healthy eating

To learn more about workshops in your community and how to live with a chronic illness, contact your local area agency on aging.

Sources

1. National Council on Aging. Chronic Inequities: Measuring Disease Cost Burden Among Older Adults in the U.S.  A Health and Retirement Study Analysis. Page 5, Figure 2. April 2022. Found on the internet at https://ncoa.org/article/the-inequities-in-the-cost-of-chronic-disease-why-it-matters-for-older-adults

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 Prepandemic Data Files Development of Files and Prevalence Estimates for Selected Health Outcomes. Found on the internet at https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/106273

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overweight & Obesity. Why it Matters. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/about-obesity/why-it-matters.html

4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Chronic Conditions. Chronic Conditions Prevalence State/County Table: Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries 65 Years and Over, 2018. Found on the internet at https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/Chronic-Conditions/CC_Main