What caregivers need to know about preventive care

What preventive services do seniors need?

Everyone needs certain tests, screenings and vaccines to stay healthy. That’s often the job of primary care: Make sure that everyone gets the right preventive care on the proper schedule. But it’s important for caregivers to also stay in the know on what’s necessary and when each service is due, especially since about a third of Americans don’t have a primary care provider.

To prepare for a conversation with a primary care provider, caregivers may want to consult the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) list of recommended preventative care services by age. Services include tooth care for infants, screening for heart health in adults, tests for osteoporosis in older women and more.

This chart shows some of the most important milestones by age — but make sure to check with a health care provider to see what’s needed for the care recipient.

The good news: The Affordable Care Act mandates that all services on the USPSTF list should be covered by most in-network insurance plans at no additional cost for eligible patients.

Vaccines are the other important part of preventive care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a list of all recommended vaccines for children and adults.

Where to get preventive services

Many people get these services from their primary care provider. Some practices like Oak Street Health put preventive care at the center of their offerings. Now more than ever, people have a choice about where to get preventive care. Convenience and price may be factors in where they go.

Walk-in clinics are one option. Some MinuteClinic^® locations now offer more than 195 preventive care services. The care providers on site can advise which services and vaccines are appropriate and deliver many of them. They can also offer some through telehealth services.

The pharmacy counter is another option. Pharmacists can deliver many vaccines, though exactly which varies by state. They can also offer counseling and smoking-cessation tools — one big item on the USPSTF list.

Some services like a mammogram or a colonoscopy need to be performed at a medical center that specializes in these procedures.

Why are vaccines important?

Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives. And new ones are popping up all the time. For instance, a new vaccine for RSV, an infection that causes serious cold-like symptoms, is now available for certain high-risk groups like older adults and pregnant people. Other commonly recommended vaccines for older adults to be aware of are those for shingles and pneumonia. The vaccines that the care recipient needs will depend on many factors. These might include their immune health, age and health status. It’s important to consult a health care provider about which vaccines are needed and when.

And the care recipient isn’t the only one who needs vaccines. Some CVS Pharmacy^® locations have group appointments, allowing a family to get their shots at the same time (and giving them one less thing to think about in their busy lives).

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.

CVS Pharmacy®, MinuteClinic® and Oak Street Health® are part of the CVS Health® family of companies.