Tips for Better Health in Seniors

Your senior loved one’s ability to manage some everyday tasks decreases with age. Seniors are also at risk for a variety of medical conditions due to illness or mental and physical decline. Luckily, there are ways that he or she can better manage the symptoms of many medical conditions. Let’s take a look at a few.

Poor Sleep

There are many contributing factors to poor sleep in seniors. Having trouble falling or staying asleep may not necessarily be due to a sleeping disorder, but it can significantly impact your loved one’s mood and lead to serious illnesses.

• Encourage your loved one to sleep with a pillow between his or her legs or under the back.
• Your loved one should nap no longer than 30 minutes.
• Reduce stimuli by keeping your loved one’s bedroom dark while trying to fall asleep.
• Tooth Loss

The leading cause of tooth loss in seniors is diabetes and smoking. Protect your loved one’s teeth with these helpful tips.

• Make sure dentures are clean and fit properly.
• Encourage your loved one to use a waterpik instead of dental floss.
• Encourage your loved one to eat more crunchy fruits and vegetables.
• Depression

Depression in seniors is very common and is often due to memories of loss, declining health and isolation. Here are a few tips to help combat depression in your senior loved one.

• Encourage your loved one to keep a journal and jot down how they are feeling.
• Encourage your loved one to participate in social activities.

Balance

Loss of balance is an unfortunate side effect to many medications. It can also be the sign of a more serious medical condition. Help your loved one stand their ground with these tips for better balance.

• Exercise is a great way to help your loved one’s balance. There are easy-to-do balance exercises that your loved one can do at home.
• Injury-proof your loved one’s home to reduce the risk of falls.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

More and more seniors are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia every day. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but these tips can help you and your loved one better manage the symptoms.

• Keep your loved one’s mind active with games like chess, word search, checkers and sudoku.
• Encourage your loved one to exercise regularly.
• Help your loved one incorporate fish rich with Omega-3 into his or her diet.

When it comes to the treatment and care of a medical condition that your senior loved one may already have; or for a condition that he or she may be in risk of getting; you should never disregard any instruction from their doctor or senior care provider. But, there are some things that you and your loved one can do to make managing the symptoms a little easier.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care Services in Duncan SC, please contact the caring staff at Upstate Home Care Solutions today. Call (864) 527-0455.