Healthy aging: guidelines for cancer screening and immunizations

With increasing life expectancy over the past 50 years, screening for treatable illness and active measures to prevent disease and promote a healthy lifestyle have become increasingly important for older patients. In general, the benefits of such efforts have become more apparent, but depend also upon general health and life expectancy of the individual. Tests for malignancies of the breast, cervix, prostate, colon, skin, and oral cavity are considered to meet screening criteria. Immunization guidelines have been recently updated, and good evidence supports the benefit of protecting older patients from influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. Counseling on prevention of falls and injuries in the home and on the highways can help reduce the risk of accidents.