Although older adult men (age 65+) should schedule annual teats and screenings for skin cancer, colonoscopy, blood work and glaucoma- older adult males should also focus on two (2) male-specific tests: PSA (prostate specific antigen) and AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) screening.  Note:  For information on specific tests and screenings for both men and women combined, please click on the following phrase: medical tests and health screenings for older adult men and women combined.  For women only, please click on the phrase: medical tests and health screenings for older adult women.

MEN

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM (AAA) SCREENING

It is recommended by physicians that older adult men schedule at least a one-time test between the ages of 65 to 75.  Those who are at special risk for this screening if they have or do smoke and/or have a first-degree relative who required repair of AAA.  AAA is a dilation or a “ballooning” out of a section of the aorta, the body’s largest artery.  A rupture of AAA can be life-threatening in a short period of time, although AAA can be treated with a variety of procedures.  as such, AAA is most common among older adult men aged 65 to 75 and is even more prevalent among older adult men of this age range who were and or continue to be smokers.  Current health or medical and/or family medical history may dictate that a patient schedule tests at an earlier age or schedule them at more frequent intervals.

What is ENDOVASCULAR REPAIR (as mentioned above):  Endovascular repair consists of a small fabric tube with metal stents attached to the fabric that is threaded up through the groin arteries until it reaches the diseased portion of the aorta, where it is opened.  It reinforces the blood vessel from the inside and creates a new channel through which the blood flows.

What is OPEN SURGICAL REPAIR:  An incision is made in the abdomen to access the aneurysm.  The diseased portion is replaced with a graft that acts as a replacement blood vessel.

PSA TEST

Most medical organizations recommend that men begin prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening with a physician between the age of forty (40) and fifty (50).  The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends screenings for older adult men with no symptoms of prostate cancer who are in relatively good health and can expect to live at least ten (10) more years.

Regularly scheduled wellness exams, physicals, medical tests and health screenings are important to maintaining overall positive health and go a long way toward minimizing the occurrence of the top three occurrences of elderly death- heart attack, cancer and stroke.  The following is a list of key medical tests and health screenings important to women as they age in place.  Note:  For tests and screenings for men and women, please click on the following phrase; medical tests and health screenings for men and women combined.  For tests and screenings for men, please click on the following phrase: medical tests and health screenings for men as older adults.

WOMEN

BONE DENSITY TEST

Known as a DXA scan (densitometry), physicians use this scan to determine if a patient has osteoporosis or is at risk for osteoporosis.  This testing should start at the age of sixty-five (65); age sixty (60) for those women who are at an increased risk for fractures and/or have a low body weight and for certain women who are prone to fall or who have fallen one or more times.

BREAST CANCER SCREENING

It is generally agreed in the medical community that all women above the age of fifty (50) should be screened with mammograms annually.  Some organizations such as the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommend screenings for mammograms start at the age of forty (40) and above.  The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends scheduling annual mammograms up to the age of seventy-four (74).

CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING

Older adult women should be screened for cervical cancer up to the age of sixty-five (65) if the older adult has maintained “adequate screening”.  Adequate screening is defined as three (3) consecutive negative tests or two 92) consecutive HPV/Pap co-tests in the ten (10) years prior to stopping, with the most recent within five (5) years.

THYROID TEST (TSH)

This test is for thyroid disease measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone being produced by the female body.  The score is used to determine whether medication therapy is needed and if a physician should adjust the medication to help a patient reach a healthy and normal level.  Older adult women age sixty (60) and older should have a TSH test annually.