URMC / Senior Health / Aging Successfully / Healthy Guidelines

Healthy Guidelines

These recommended guidelines apply to healthy seniors (65 years of age and older) who have no specific disease or additional risk factors. They're recommendations only. Be sure to talk to your own physician to discuss your personal health guidelines in-depth.

Women's Health Guidelines (65 and older)

Recommended Test	Guideline
Weight	Annually
Blood pressure	At least every 1-2 years
Cholesterol	At least every 5 years
Immunizations	Tetanus-diphtheria every 10 years Influenza annually Pneumococcal, once at age 65
Clinical breast exam	Health care provider, annually Self-exam, monthly
Mammography	Annually
Pelvic exam/PAP smear	Every 1-3 years
Colon cancer screening	Annual stool blood test and flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years OR colonoscopy every 10 years
Diabetes screening	Every 3 years OR per health care provider
Eye exam	Every 1-2 years as indicated
Hearing exam	Every 1-2 years as indicated

Men's Health Guidelines (65 and older)

Recommended Test	Guideline
Weight	Annually
Blood pressure	At least every 1-2 years
Cholesterol	At least once every 5 years
Immunizations	Tetanus-Diphtheria every 10 years Influenza annually Pneumococcal once at age 65
Prostate cancer screening	Discuss with provider the benefits and limitations of screening PSA and digital rectal exam
Testicular exam	As part of routine exam
Colon cancer screening	Annual stool blood test and flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years or Colonoscopy every 10 years
Diabetes screening	Every 3 years or per healthcare provider
Eye exam	Every 1-2 years as indicated
Hearing	Every 1-2 years as indicated