How to Support Your Elderly Loved One’s Health

Gracefully ageing is a blessing in life. As your loved ones get older, you want to see your parents, aunts, uncles, and others live happy and healthy lives in their golden years. Their physical health may decline as they get older, but there are ways you can make their lives easier as the years pass. This guide will show you five tips for caring for your elderly loved one’s health as they age. 

1 Encourage Healthy Eating 

A healthy diet can go a long way in helping your loved one extend their healthy life. Check with their doctor to see what they recommend, particularly for your loved one. Ask them what they like to eat and center their diet around those foods. Sometimes, the elderly lose their taste buds, so finding foods they enjoy eating is essential. 

It’s typical for older people to eat less as they age. Ensure they’re getting enough protein to support their muscles, because losing strength is common in the elderly. You can find protein sources with peanut butter, tuna, Greek yogurt, chicken, eggs, and more. If they have difficulty getting food down, try supplements like protein shakes because they’re easy to drink and digest. 

2 Advocate for Exercise 

An effective way for seniors to maintain good health is to exercise. Physical activity can help build strength, mobility, and flexibility as you age. It can also do wonders for your mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Seniors need light exercise, so some activities they can do include: 

• Walking: Lace up some comfortable shoes and walk around the park, neighborhood, shopping mall, or other venues. Walking is a convenient and low-impact exercise that’s excellent for older adults. Regular walking sessions can strengthen leg muscles and reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. 
• Water aerobics: Water exercises are a popular activity for seniors because they’re fun and easy on the body. Activities in the pool are ideal for older people with arthritis because the warm water stimulates blood circulation and eases joint pain. 
• Chair yoga: Yoga is a relaxing exercise that dates back thousands of years. It’s an excellent regimen that promotes flexibility, improves energy, and helps your respiration. If regular yoga seems too taxing, try chair yoga for a lower-impact version.

3 Improve Household Safety

If your loved one lives alone, their house could become a liability as they age. Walking up the stairs or taking a bath may become more difficult as the years pass and their mobility declines. Falls are a common occurrence among seniors. Annually, there are about 36 million reported falls, with 32,000 of them becoming fatal. There are some steps you can take to make their home safer. 

One place you can improve safety is in the bathroom. Replacing their current bathmats with rubber-backed ones will strengthen their grip as they step out of the bathtub. For the tub itself, you could replace it with a walk-in shower. Stepping into the tub will be much easier when your loved one doesn’t have to lift their leg over a ledge. Another step to prevent slipping in the bathroom is to add no-slip strips inside the bathtub. 

4 Teach Easy Technology 

Technology can challenge older people but can help promote an independent lifestyle. There are some technology devices they can take advantage of for medical reasons and leisure. These gadgets include: 

• Tablets: Tablets are an excellent option for seniors because of their large screens that are easy to see. Devices like the GrandPad have a design and operating system geared toward the elderly because they’re simple. With these tablets, you can video chat, view photos, and play music and games. 
• Emergency necklace: If a fall happens, your loved one could be at risk if they’re home alone. An older person could be stuck on the ground for hours if nobody else is at home. Getting them a device from a company like Life Alert could save their life. If they fall, they can press the button on the necklace and contact a dispatcher who calls 911. 
• Smartwatch: Smartwatches have become a popular device for people of all ages and can benefit your loved one. You can get them a smartwatch specially designed for older people. These gadgets can track heart rate, step count, and sleep. Some watches have fall detection and emergency assistance in case of an accident.

5 Explore Telehealth Options

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how the world conducts business, especially in the medical field. Telehealth and remote patient monitoring (RPM) have become more prevalent during the pandemic. 

With remote care, your loved one can stay at home and receive personalized care from their health care provider. RPM can improve patient engagement and save time for your loved ones and their doctors. 

Caring for Your Elderly Loved One 

Growing old is a part of life, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop doing things you love. With today’s technology, it’s easier to communicate with family, talk to doctors, and exercise. Their physical health may start to decline, but these five methods can support your elderly loved one’s health.