Even healthy seniors will experience changes as they age, many of which are completely normal. Your aging loved one may develop unusual habits or ailments, and you should be able to tell the difference between everyday annoyances and serious health complications that must be addressed immediately. Here are some of the most common age-related changes many seniors experience and what caregivers can do to address them.
1. Aching Joints
Joints take an incredible amount of wear and tear over the years, and the soft tissue that cushions the bones eventually becomes damaged. Arthritis is extremely common among the elderly, and most seniors can manage their discomfort with over-the-counter painkillers. Those who continue to exercise and stay at a healthy weight can reduce their risk of developing serious joint problems down the road.
2. Forgetfulness
Forgetfulness can be quite frustrating, but caregivers should keep in mind that memory loss is a perfectly natural part of growing older. Seniors often forget where they’ve placed their eyeglasses or who was with them when they watched certain movies. You can think of those issues as nothing more than minor annoyances. Caregivers only need to be worried if the memory loss becomes severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as mood swings and aggressive behaviour, which may indicate a more serious medical condition such as dementia.
Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Barrie families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life.
3. Decreased Appetite
There are many reasons older adults lose their appetite, but most of them aren’t serious. Seniors are usually more sedentary than younger adults, which means they need fewer calories throughout the day. If you’re worried about your loved one’s health, ask his or her doctor about supplements that provide key vitamins and minerals. Check your loved one’s medication to see if loss of appetite is one of the side effects. Boosting your parent’s appetite might involve something as simple as altering the time when he or she takes medication.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of homecare. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
4. Skin Blemishes
The skin is incredibly resilient when people are younger, but it can become damaged as the years go by. Aging bodies produce less elastin, collagen, and other proteins that keep skin healthy. The only time you should be worried about your loved one’s skin blemishes is if they grow quickly in a short time.
5. Vision Impairment
Around the age of 40, many adults will begin to notice vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts. While these issues can be irritating, they’re a normal part of aging and can be taken care of with regular visits to the eye doctor. Just as with other age-related changes, catching vision problems early allows seniors and their eye doctors to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan to slow the rate of degeneration.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of Barrie home care service. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. For reliable in-home care services, contact us at 647-970-3803.