Arthritis Management Tips for Senior Citizens

By John Hunt | April 22, 2020 | Comments Off on Arthritis Management Tips for Senior Citizens

Arthritis is a painful condition for many people. This is especially true for senior citizens. While this condition can’t be cured, there are tips that can help your elderly loved one to manage it. They may need some help from you and their senior care providers, though. Before jumping into these tips, remember even though these tips are meant to help, if they make your loved one’s pain worse, talk to their doctor to see what should be done.

Exercising

Senior Care Rochester NY - Arthritis Management Tips for Senior Citizens

Senior Care Rochester NY – Arthritis Management Tips for Senior Citizens

Exercise can help with the management of arthritis. If you are caring for an elderly adult, you can help them to set up an exercise plan. It might even be worth talking to your loved one’s doctor ahead of time to ask what exercises they believe are safe. Generally, low-impact exercises are recommended for those with arthritis. Most high-impact activities aren’t appropriate, as they may cause worsened symptoms. This is due to the extra stress that is put on the joints during these exercises.

Managing One’s Weight

If your elderly loved one is overweight or obese, it would be beneficial for them to lose weight. Weight management is often recommended for those who have arthritis. This is because the extra weight adds a lot of stress on the joints. Losing weight and then managing one’s weight can greatly reduce the severity of your elderly loved one’s symptoms. Just be sure to remember that weight won’t drop off quickly. It is best to have your elderly loved one slowly lose weight. Even if they only lose a few pounds that can make all the difference in their symptoms.

Eating More Fatty Acids

Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial in the management of arthritis. Seafood, for example, is a great addition to your elderly loved one’s diet. These fatty acids help to reduce inflammation in the body. The less inflammation there is, the less pain there will be on and around the joints.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a controversial management technique when it comes to arthritis. Some people don’t believe that this works in reducing pain. However, others have seen and reaped the benefits of arthritis for many years. If your elderly loved one has never tried acupuncture before, now may be a great time for them to start. Have them try it a few times and see if it helps to reduce their symptoms. If you can’t take them to the acupuncture appointment, hire a senior care provider to take them.

Quality Sleep

Getting quality sleep helps the body to heal. In addition, getting quality sleep means your loved one will be more well-rested the next day. Feeling refreshed often helps people to feel they have more control over their pain. If your elderly loved one can get 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep every night, this may help to manage their symptoms.

These are some of the arthritis management tips that could help your elderly loved one. Start trying different ones out to see which ones help to reduce your loved one’s symptoms.

Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/management.htm
https://arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/arthritis-self-management-what-you-need-to-know

If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Care Services in Rochester NY, contact the caring staff at Caring Hearts of Rochester today! Serving Rochester, Pittsford, Greece, Webster, Canandaigua, Fairport, Perinton, Penfield, Brighton, Henrietta and surrounding communities. Call 585-245-0134.

John Hunt
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