Men’s Health: Osteoporosis Affects Senior Men Too

Victoria Senior Health  |  June 11, 2025

What Every Family in Victoria, BC, Needs to Know About Osteoporosis in Men

Osteoporosis gets plenty of press with older women, but older men would do well to assess their risk for this disease. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone density loss in both women and men. 

Its progression is silent, and without screening, it usually becomes evident when the person suffers a fractured bone from a low-impact activity. More than half, 55%, of all senior adults in Canada have osteoporosis. Fractures from osteoporosis are more common than heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined.

#DYK – More men over the age of fifty (one in four) will suffer from a broken hip due to osteoporosis than will get prostate cancer.

Osteoporosis and Men

While osteoporosis appears to affect fewer senior men than women (one in five men compared with one in three women), the consequences for men are more severe. For example, older men are more likely to die within a year of having a hip fracture due to bone loss. 

Unfortunately, due to a lack of understanding of the disease, older men are also less likely to be diagnosed with and receive treatment for osteoporosis after a fracture occurs. Considering this, men over 50 may want to be proactive and find out if they have osteoporosis so they can receive treatment for it before a fracture occurs. They can start by assessing their risk.

Nine Factors That Increase The Risk of Osteoporosis in Men

1. Family history of bone fractures, especially hip fractures, due to osteoporosis
2. Smoking
3. Inactive lifestyle
4. Excessive alcohol use
5. Certain medications used over prolonged periods of time, such as corticosteroids, sedatives, antidepressants, and medications that inhibit the absorption of calcium
6. Low body weight and weight loss
7. Loss of height
8. Abnormally low levels of sex hormones
9. Gastrointestinal disorders that prevent the absorption of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, vitamins D and K, phosphorous, and amino acids (all essential for bone health)

Older men who have any of these factors should discuss their risk with their doctors and request a screening, although there is some controversy as to whether those test results can be interpreted the same for men as for women. 

Senior men can also make lifestyle changes that will help decrease their risk, including decreasing alcohol intake, stopping smoking, increasing activity levels, and doing weight-bearing exercises. Any dramatic lifestyle changes should only be done, however, after consulting with a medical professional. 

By taking action early, older men can tackle osteoporosis before it causes significant bone density loss and help ensure they stay independent and active longer. 

The Best Senior Home Care Provider in Victoria, BC, is Comfort Keepers®

Firstly, if you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can help with 24-hour care. We offer senior care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Victoria Provides In-Home Elderly Care Services

Aging in place means keeping seniors happy and healthy at home. Comfort Keepers® trained caregivers provide seniors with the highest quality of life possible. In particular, our Interactive Caregiving™ system provides care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria In-Home Caregivers Can Help with Interactive Caregiving™

Personal and empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our clients’ needs. Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit. Our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. 

Senior Homecare in Victoria, BC

Our unique services offer families respite care, overnight care, personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care. To learn more, contact the Comfort Keepers Victoria office.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria is Proud to Provide Senior Care and Home Care Services to Keep Seniors Safe in Their Homes

If you are searching for home care near you, we can help! Comfort Keepers® Victoria can provide home care for Victoria and surrounding areas. Service territory includes Colwood, Saanich, Sidney, James Bay, and Oak Bay. Please call (778) 265-5999 and learn how your loved ones can receive compassionate, professional in-home care.

Quality and Accredited Respite Care for British Columbia Families

Comfort Keepers® Victoria has achieved Exemplary Standing accreditation from Accreditation Canada. This accreditation, a rigorous evaluation of organizational processes, policies, and procedures against established quality standards by industry experts, signifies that Comfort Keepers’ offices have successfully met or surpassed the stringent benchmarks for Home Care companies as defined by Accreditation Canada.

References

• Osteoporosis Canada.  Facts and Figures. Retrieved from http://www.osteoporosis.ca/osteoporosis-and-you/osteoporosis-facts-and-statistics/
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (May 2009). Osteoporosis and bone health. AAOS Now. Retrieved from http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/may09/clinical8.asp.
• International Osteoporosis Foundation. (n.d.). Facts and statistics. Retrieved from  http://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-statistics.
• National Osteoporosis Foundation. (n.d.). Just for men. Retrieved from http://nof.org/articles/236.
• NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases–National Resource Center. (January 2012). Osteoporosis in men. Retrieved from http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/bone/osteoporosis/men.asp.

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