Preventive Care Plans and Guidelines

Guidelines for Females, Age 65 Plus

The following recommendations are categorized for “men” and “women,” and are driven by biological sex (male and female) rather than gender identity. Meet with your doctor to determine which recommendations best apply to you based on individual factors, such as your sex assigned at birth and current anatomy.1

Screenings

Annually

  • Body Mass Index (BMI)
  • Blood pressure
  • Breast cancer exam and mammogram
  • Height and weight
  • Skin
  • Teeth cleaning (every 6 months)
  • Well-doctor exam
  • Depression and suicide risk
  • Anxiety

Every 2 years

  • Breast cancer mammogram

Every 2 – 4 years

  • Eyes

Every 5 years

  • Cholesterol (more frequently if you are at high risk for coronary disease)

As needed

  • Abdominal aortic aneurism (one time at 65 and older if you ever smoked)
  • Colorectal cancer (until age 75, your doctor may suggest any one of these tests based on screening type and risk):
    • Direct visualization tests: colonoscopy, CT colonography, flexible sigmoidoscopy
    • Stool-based tests: fecal immunochemical test (FIT), guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), multi-targeted stool DNA test (FIT-DNA)
  • Cardiovascular (CVD) Risk Assessment (screen as your doctor suggests between 40 and 75)
  • Hearing
  • Hepatitis C (screen once between ages 18 and 79)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Lung Cancer (until age 80 with a history of smoking 30 packs per year and either still smoke or quit within the past 15 years)
  • HIV
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)
  • Osteoporosis
  • Tobacco, alcohol and substance abuse counseling
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Cervical Cancer (speak to your doctor about recommendations)

Vaccines


For more information about vaccines and the current recommendations on COVID-19 vaccinations, visit cdc.gov/vaccines.

Annually

  • Influenza (flu)

Every 10 years

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/ Pertussis (Tdap)

As needed

  • Pneumonia (age 65 and older should receive both a PCV13 and PPSV23; your doctor will suggest dosage)
  • Pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate (PCV13)
  • Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23)
  • COVID-19

Two dose vaccine

  • Shingles (Zoster) (Age 60+)

1 Caughey AB, Krist AH, Wolff TA, et al: USPSTF Approach to Addressing Sex and Gender When Making Recommendations for Clinical Preventive Services. JAMA. (November 16, 2021): pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34694343.