What health checks do I need in my 60s and beyond?

As we get older, the reality is that our risk of developing a health issue or injury tends to increase. But an important way to help you continue living a long and healthy life in your 60s and beyond is by keeping up to date with necessary health checks.

We want to make it easy for you to proactively look after your health. So, here’s a checklist of what to discuss with your doctor at your next check-up:

• Kidneys
• Falls risk
• Joint health
• Cancer & screenings
• Mental wellbeing
• Risk of chronic diseases

Are you up to date with these regular health checks?

• A dental check-up
• An eye check-up
• A hearing check-up

Why are these health checks important right now?

Kidneys – Older adults can be more at risk of some kidney and urinary tract diseases. These are serious if left undetected, but catching it early and treating it properly can increase the life of your kidneys. Talk with your doctor and they’ll advise you of your risk, and how frequently to have checks done.

Falls risk – There are many factors that can cause a fall, ranging from lower limb weakness, to depression, to polypharmacy (the use of four or more medicines). As we age, the risk of having a fall resulting in injury or even morbidity increases. So make sure you talk with your doctor about your injury risk, your history of falls, and any interventions to prevent another.

Joint health – Our risk of experiencing joint problems and pain increases in older age but they often go under-recognised and under-treated. One of the reasons is that pain is viewed as being a ‘normal’ part of ageing, but pain that goes untreated is a major cause of reduced mobility, functional decline and social isolation. Talk to your doctor about any joint pain you’re experiencing so they can intervene early, and make sure they don’t develop to something worse, like arthritis or osteoporosis.

Cancer & screenings – Our risk of developing cancer significantly increases by the time we reach our later years. Having regular screenings is important for detecting issues early, when they are most treatable.

New Zealand has three national screening programmes for breast, cervical, and bowel cancer. Your doctor may recommend these checks, as well as additional ones for skin, cervix or prostate cancer. Bowel and cervical screening can prevent cancer by identifying and treating abnormal cell changes before they become cancerous, allowing you to be on top of your health when life takes an unexpected turn.

Mental wellbeing - If you’re experiencing changes to your mood, concentration, memory or word-finding, you’re not alone. It’s important to discuss your mental wellbeing during regular check-ups so that you can identify early signs of conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s, as well as anxiety and depression. No one wants to go through a stressful situation alone, which is why reaching out to a trusted doctor and getting support early can really help.

Risk of chronic disease - As we move through our 60s and 70s, it’s important to be mindful of chronic illnesses, with many 65-75 year-olds managing long-term physical health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and dementia. Regular health checks can track your risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, and/or high blood pressure, allowing you to take preventative steps to manage and reduce complications.

Dental check-up – Teeth can become more sensitive, enamel can weaken, and gum issues like periodontitis become more common in this stage of life. Medications may dry out your mouth, making cavities more likely, and exposed tooth roots can appear. This is also a time to be wary of mouth cancer (also known as oral cancer), particularly for those with a history of tobacco or alcohol use. It is important to find mouth cancer as early as possible so that it can be treated more successfully, which can be achieved through a screening.

Having these check-ups with your dentist allows you to catch issues early, protect your teeth and gums, and highlight other health concerns before they become more serious.

Eye check-up – Cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) become more common, along with changes like farsightedness and dry eyes.

Regular eye exams are the best way to catch issues early, before they further affect your vision. Your optometrist can give you an eye exam to check for eye health and any potential risks, recommend treatments and give advice on lifestyle choices, allowing you to continue enjoying all the things you love to see.

Hearing check-up – As we get older, our hearing naturally becomes less sensitive and our risk of health conditions inevitably increases. That’s why annual checks are recommended for anyone over 60.

Presbycusis, also known as age-related hearing loss, is the most common cause of hearing loss with about a third of people over the age of 65 experiencing the condition. In many cases, presbycusis can be managed with hearing aids that are fitted by an audiologist and customised to each person.

For a full list of the health checks you and your family should be keeping up with at every stage of life, check out the nib Warrant of Wellness.

This is all part of maintaining balance in your lives, so your health can thrive for years to come. Our health tool, nib Balance via the my nib app, gives our members an overall view of their health (including a gauge of their physical health) and provides expert programmes and advice to get them back on track.

Learn more about nib Balance here.