How Lifestyles Affect Nursing Home Admissions
New research suggests that people over 60 who don’t take care of themselves are much more likely to end up in a nursing home than those who live healthier lives.
The study looked at five big things that affect our health: exercise, smoking, how much we sit, how well we sleep, and what we eat.
The researchers say these factors can more than double the chances of someone needing to go to a nursing home, especially between the ages of 60 and 64.
The Australian Study: What Did They Do?
The research used data from over 127,000 men and women in Australia who were 60 years old or older. These people had filled out questionnaires about their lifestyles between 2006 and 2009.
Based on their answers, the study split them into three groups: low, medium, and high risk for ending up in a nursing home.
During the 10 years that followed, about 18% of these people actually went to a nursing home.
When the researchers did the math, they found that people in the high-risk group were 43% more likely to end up in a nursing home compared to those in the low-risk group. People in the medium-risk group were 12% more likely.
Key Takeaways: What Does This Mean for Us?
Of all the things the study looked at, smoking had the most powerful effect. People who smoked had a 55% higher chance of going to a nursing home.
Exercise, sitting time, and sleep were also big factors, but what you eat wasn’t as clearly linked to nursing home stays. This might be because the study didn’t ask enough questions about diet.
This research isn’t perfect. It’s important to remember that it’s based on what people said about their lives at one point in time, so things could have changed.
Also, we don’t know the exact reasons why these people went to nursing homes, or what other health problems they might have had.
Still, this study is a wake-up call. It shows us that how we live our lives can have a big impact on whether or not we’ll end up in a nursing home.
This is a big deal because as our society gets older, more people will need this kind of care. It’s not just a personal issue; it’s something that affects all of us.
The researchers say that we should focus on public health measures that help people improve their lifestyles. Quitting smoking, sitting less, moving more, and sleeping better could help us stay out of nursing homes as we age.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity, and natural blood pressure controllers: 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about diet to fight diabetic eye damage, and results showing these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
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