Prevention: Public Healthcare, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Vaccination

Abstract

Prevention in older persons is not only aiming to the reduction of morbidity and mortality but also to the preservation of health and function as well as of quality of life. Several preventive strategies are relevant for older persons such as physical activity/exercise, vaccination, care planning, and nutrition. Most dietary recommendations for older adults don’t differ from those for younger adults: supply with energy, water, protein, and vitamin D, however, requires particular attention and adaptions due to age-related physiological changes and potential underlying diseases to avoid malnutrition and obesity in advanced age. To prevent or early detect malnutrition in older adults, a screening on regular basis focusing on the current nutritional status, history, and its evolution is mandatory. In case of a positive screening result, the nutritional situation needs further assessment as base of a multidisciplinary and individualized nutritional therapy. Physical activity in general and structured exercise in particular have relevant health benefits for older adults with differing health statuses and are important in the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of many diseases and geriatric syndromes. Current guidelines recommend engagement in aerobic exercises on most days as well as regular training of strength and flexibility, particular of the major muscle groups in the weight-bearing extremities and challenging balance exercises for people at risk for falling.