Tips for Alleviating Arthritis Pain

 Living with arthritis can be frustrating and painful. When your joints are stiff and achy, it can make it more difficult to do everyday activities and live comfortably. While there is no cure for arthritis, there are steps that seniors can take to reduce pain. What works well for one person may not be as effective for the next, so it can be beneficial to try different approaches and see what works best for your individual situation.

May is Arthritis Awareness Month, so here are few strategies that you can try to alleviate pain:

Engage in regular exercise: It was once thought that exercise could make arthritis pain worse, but more recent studies have found that daily exercise can actually provide some relief. It is important that seniors are staying away from high-impact activities and focusing more on low-impact options. This could include swimming, biking, walking, yoga, and other aerobic activities. These exercises gently stretch muscles and joints and can enhance range of motion while alleviating pain.

Control weight: It is important for seniors to maintain a healthy weight. Even just a few extra pounds can put added stress on their joints and exacerbate the effects of arthritis. Eating a healthy diet and exercising can help them to keep their weight in check. For those who are overweight, losing a few pounds can make a difference in the way they feel and provide some relief from arthritis pain. Seniors should check with their doctor to determine what weight is right for them and how to more effectively manage it.

Apply heat or cold: A heating pad or warm bath can soothe sore muscles and joints. It can also be a great way to relax and unwind. Make sure not to leave the heating pad in place for more than 20 minutes at a time to reduce the risk of burns. Another option is to apply an ice pack to sore spots to help reduce inflammation and temporarily ease pain. Try both and see which is more effective for your needs.

Use topical ointments: There are many topical creams and gels that can temporarily relieve pain. They often contain capsaicin and can be applied directly to areas where there is arthritis. They are absorbed through the skin and start working fairly quickly.

Take anti-inflammatory medication: There are both over-the-counter and prescription strength anti-inflammatory medications that can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. This can make moving and working less painful and allow you to carry on with daily activities.

Get a massage: Massage therapy can also ease pain. Let the therapist know where your arthritis is and what is bothering you. They can manually manipulate muscles to provide relief and target areas where you have the most pain. This can also help to relax stiff joints.

Seniors may find that a combination of treatments works well for dealing with arthritis pain. Keeping pain better managed can allow them to get more enjoyment out of their day. If arthritis is limiting, assistance from an in-home care provider can make taking care of their Asheville home and themselves a little easier. Find out how Always Best Care of Asheville-Hendersonville can support your senior with daily tasks and promote independence by calling (828) 989-7263 or visiting us online to arrange for your free consultation. Don’t let arthritis stand in your senior’s way.

Holiday Season Tips for Caregivers

As a home care provider for an elderly loved one, it’s normal to feel disappointment or frustration that certain traditions from years past can no longer be executed as your senior ages. However, there is no need to give up on making the season a joy-filled one. Here are some ways to ensure that the holiday season is an exciting time for your senior and your family.

Get them involved

The home care professionals of Always Best Care Asheville-Hendersonville explain that simply getting your senior involved is one of the best ways to make the holiday season a happy time. Even if your elderly loved one is not as mobile as they once were, there are plenty of ways to ensure that they get into the holiday spirit too. Holiday activities can easily be adapted to fit your loved one’s ability levels.

Have them help you polish the menorah, wrap presents, decorate the tree, or mail holiday cards. If they are unable to get fully involved in these activities, encourage them to keep you company as you do them. This allows them to enjoy the festivities, regardless of what they can or cannot do on their own. You can also read them holiday stories, or have them join you in singing Christmas carols.

Invite visitors, but don’t overwhelm your senior

If your elderly loved one is missing out on the fun of holiday parties this season, why not bring the party to them? It doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. Serve traditional foods, play holiday music, and add decorations to their home. However, remember to approach the situation from your senior’s point of view. You may think that inviting the whole extended family over is a great way to cheer your senior up, but to them this may be confusing. If they have not seen some of the relatives in years and struggle to remember who they are, they may start to feel overwhelmed. For this reason, you’ll want to keep the guest list small and full of familiar faces.

In order to keep the experience pleasant for everyone involved, spend some time going over the guest list with your senior before company arrives. You may want to show them pictures of the people who will be coming, and remind them how they know this person. This can help them to feel more comfortable as unfamiliar people enter their home.

Lastly, flexibility is key when it comes to celebrating the holidays with your senior. Put plans into place, but don’t be afraid to change them if it becomes clear that your senior is feeling tired or overwhelmed.

The Best Gifts for Your Senior this Holiday Season

As the holiday season rolls around, you’ll want to find a way to make sure that your senior feels loved and appreciated. There are many different gift options that an elderly individual would love to add to their collection. If you’re looking for a way to narrow down the list, keep these suggestions in mind:

• Fitness-focused gifts: Being sedentary is at the root of many major health problems among elderly individuals. Senior care professionals advise family members to invest in a fitness-focused gift that allows an elderly loved one to have fun while getting active. Though the Nintendo Wii is beloved by children, it can also benefit seniors as it presents a fun and manageable way to get moving. The system is affordable and provides a range of games that will fit your elderly loved one’s activity level and interests. Home care professionals explain that this is the perfect way to get your senior bowling or playing tennis, even if they’re not able to leave the house to pursue these activities anymore.
• Gifts that challenge the mind: The senior care professionals of Always Best Care of Asheville, Hendersonville, and Waynesville explain that keeping the mind sharp is another important aspect of helping a senior to age well. Numerous studies have illustrated that a person who regularly challenges their mind is less likely to experience Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. There are many different ways to go about doing this, from playing video games to doing crossword puzzles. If your elderly loved one adores numbers, buy them a book of Sudoku puzzles. If they’ve really embraced technology, invest in one of many different kinds of software that will allow them to enjoy a challenging round of game play on their computer.
• Tools that help a senior to keep safe: There are a number of attractive yet effective gifts for family members who are concerned about the safety of their elderly loved one. For instance, A Very Special Heart is a device that conceals a small USB device inside a beautiful charm. This USB tool holds information about your senior’s medical conditions, allergies, and daily medications. It’s an elegant piece of jewelry that serves a purpose.

Regardless of whether you want something practical or fun, there are plenty of options that will delight your senior as they unwrap their gifts during the holidays.

Advantages of Home Care

Home care occurs when an individual dedicates a set amount of time to caring for the needs of a senior. Whether you personally see to your elderly loved one's needs or hire a professional to do so, this is an activity that can greatly benefit your loved one. When it comes to quality home care, Always Best Care Asheville encourages you to explore your options and choose the provider that will best meet your senior's needs. While doing so, it is important to keep in mind the many ways in which this form of elder care can benefit your elderly loved one.

Facilitating Aging in Place
Many seniors want to retain as high a degree of independence as possible, and this means living out their golden years in their own home. In most instances, though, this can prove dangerous for elderly individuals who have mobility limitations, suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other conditions, or are not able to keep up with the demands of managing a household. If seniors are not in need of extensive medical care, they can stay in their homes without compromising their safety with the assistance of an elder care provider. As such, home care offers the opportunity for these seniors to age in place while staying as safe and secure as possible.

Medication Administration
As individuals age their bodies start to function less efficiently, resulting in the need for medications. If your senior also has an illness that requires pharmaceuticals, it can become incredibly difficult to manage all of their prescriptions. Home care providers can help elderly individuals by keeping track of when medications need to be taken and the correct dosage—and making sure that they are taken as prescribed.

Companionship
Seniors often become lonely, especially if they have chosen to age in place and are not able to drive. In many cases, elderly individuals who have outlived their friends and do not live near family members can become incredibly isolated. Having the companionship of a home care provider can go far in helping seniors to maintain positive spirits and a higher degree of mental wellbeing.
Home care is a wonderful option for many situations. Talk to your local senior care professionals to learn more.

Keeping Seniors Hydrated During the Dog Days of Summer

With summer in full swing, the issue of proper hydration is an important one to consider as you care for your loved one. Whether you offer around the clock support to your senior or you have a home care professional assist with your elderly loved one's senior care, Always Best Care Asheville-Hendersonville knows that it is crucial that your loved one gets enough water to keep them healthy during the summer months.

Many people are dehydrated and they are completely unaware of the fact, as few individuals who are not consciously drinking water during the day get the full eight cups that are recommended. For seniors, it can be quite easy to forget to drink water or to grab a more convenient beverage, such as a soda or juice out of the refrigerator, if there is no cold drinking water available. To help you keep your elderly loved one hydrated as temperatures continue to soar, keep the following tips in mind.

1. Always make sure that your senior has cold drinking water on hand. Water filtration systems that are imbedded in the front door of the refrigerator are fantastic resources. If your senior doesn't have access to this form of water filtration, invest in a pitcher with a filter in the top. The pitcher can be stored in the refrigerator so the water is always cold and it only takes a minute or so to filter the water, making it easy to access clean, refreshing drinking water at any time. 
2. Buy your loved one a water bottle that they can carry around with them. This way they can have drinking water available when they are out and about or even when they are just sitting on the couch, as this is a convenient way to carry around enough H2O for seniors to stay hydrated. 
3. Create a system for your senior to track their water intake. Some water bottles have counters built in, allowing individuals to keep up with the number of cups they have had each day. If this isn't an option, put a piece of masking tape on the bottle and have your senior make a tick mark for every time they refill it. 

Staying hydrated is key to staying healthy during the summer months. With these tips, you should be able to help your senior drink enough water to keep their bodies functioning effectively.