Preventive Care: Ages 65 and Older

The following is a summary of the preventive health care schedules for adults ages 65 and older. You should discuss the prevention steps listed with your health care provider. He or she will suggest a schedule that is tailored to your needs.

Listed with each prevention step is the recommended frequency of performing the step.

When To Schedule a Visit

It is recommended that men and women see their doctor every one to two years for a complete preventive care visit. Each visit includes a height and weight check, blood pressure check, preventive counseling, health risk assessment and any necessary screening tests or immunizations.

Screening Tests and Immunizations

Men and Women

• Blood pressure check: every one to two years

• Cholesterol check: every five years

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: every five years; or colonoscopy every 10 years

• Hearing and vision screening: beginning at age 75

• Influenza vaccine: every year

• Pneumococcus vaccine: once at age 65

• Tetanus/diphtheria booster: every 10 years, or Tdap (tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis) if recommended by your doctor.

• A vaccine to prevent shingles (Zostavax) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006.  It reduces the incidence of shingles by about half.  The vaccine is recommended for people 60 and older.

Women

• Clinical breast examination: every year

• Mammogram: every year

• Pap test and pelvic examination: every year until there are three normal ones in a row, then you can extend the interval to three years, provided you have no new sexual partners.

• Dexa scan to screen for osteoporosis in women, beginning at age 65.

Lifestyle Habits

Advice you followed or ignored about diet, physical activity and the use of tobacco is as important now as ever. For example, regular physical activity, even for the frail or elderly, remains one of the most effective ways to stay vital. Aging should bring a renewed focus on keeping existing health problems from getting worse and maintaining the healthy habits you have developed over the years.