Jakarta (ANTARA) – Vulnerability or frailty become one of the health problems that interfere with the elderly to be able to live a good quality, including during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, health experts remind those who are more than 60 years old not to become old even though they experience a decrease in body function due to aging.
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The elderly in Indonesia, referring to research from the Indonesian Medical Gerontology Association (PERGEMI) in 2019 amounted to around 24 percent and this figure increased to 34 percent a year later.
Another study finding also shows, as many as 70 percent of the elderly have even entered the pre-senious category or conditions that will become old. As a result, the independence score of the elderly is not good and dependence on others is high at 38 percent.
Another study, published in 2021, found that as many as 1 in 5 elderly experienced aging or 18.17 percent and 66.20 percent were in the pre-elderly category.
According to studies, there are a number of factors that influence this condition including: depression and risk of malnutrition, history of previous falls and hospitalizations in the previous 12 months, as well as polypharmacy or most drugs.
Not only that, in general, factors such as age, functional status or independence and nutritional status also affect vulnerability.
“This is the main problem for the elderly in Indonesia,” said Lazuardhi Dwipa, an internal medicine consultant geriatric consultant at Bandung’s Hasan Sadikin Hospital in an online press conference to coincide with the 25th National Elderly Day (HLUN) on Saturday (29/5). .
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He said that vulnerabilities make the elderly unable to be independent and dependent on others. This condition also increases their susceptibility to a disease and leads to poor quality of life.
Vulnerability, according to Lazuarhdi, is not something to be understood but needs to be prevented, one of which is through early detection. If the elderly is found in an old condition as early as possible, then he can be treated immediately.
Then how to detect vulnerabilities early?
One of them can use the RAPUH questionnaire, which is an acronym for: Resistance, Activity, Illness, Walking and Weight loss. Assign a score of 1 to each acronym for a “yes” answer.
R or resistance is muscle weakness characterized by having difficulty climbing 10 stairs. He must rest or be helped.
A is an activity that is measured by being easily tired all the time. Old or fragile people are prone to depression. Give a score of 1 if the elderly have this characteristic.
P or chronic disease many or more than five such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung, heart failure, asthma, joint pain.
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U or walking effort, marked by decreased physical performance. Walking 100-200 meters is not strong, must be assisted by sticks and other tools.
Finally, H or weight loss of more than 5 percent compared to a year ago due to malnutrition rather than weight loss programs.
Lazuardhi said, an elderly person is said to be old if there are at least 3 or more of this FRAGILE.
In addition to susceptibility, sarcopenia is also a problem for the elderly which causes them to be unable to be independent and age unhealthy. Sarcopenia is a condition of loss of muscle mass and function due to the aging process.
Tests to detect sarcopenia can be done in a hospital, including a hand grip test, measurement of muscle mass and physical performance tests.
Susceptibility and sarcopenia should not be tolerated because if the person falls, especially with osteoporosis, it can lead to a hip fracture. As a result, he can become immobilized or can only lie down and be at risk of infection and permanent disability.
“So, if it is understood, it was not detected early and treated, it ended up like this. In fact, sarcopenia and susceptibility can be prevented and treated,” said Lazuardhi.
Furthermore, in the current pandemic era, old age can also put the elderly at risk of contracting COVID-19 and prevent them from getting the vaccine, even though it is a priority to be vaccinated.
Lazuardhi said that an elderly person must delay getting vaccinated, while improving his condition so that his physical performance, resistance and nutritional status improve.
The treatments they can undergo assisted by health workers include providing good nutrition, then exercising to strengthen muscles, stamina, flexibility and preventing falls, then giving vitamin D according to the body’s needs, managing chronic diseases and avoiding the bad effects of many drugs or polypharmacy.
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By Lia Wanadriani Santosa
Editor: Ida Nurcahyani
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