Major Ways to Manage Common Health Issues in Elderly
As you grow old, to ensure you are in the pink of health, it is a must to involve yourself in some sort of physical activity. Even doing basic household chores will keep you busy and active. But it is difficult for you to even do simple tasks due to low muscle strength, poor vision, poor hearing, joint pains, etc. What you can do is manage these common issues in a way that it gets easier for you to do daily chores and live an independent life. To know how you can do that, keep reading.
Redesign Daily Routine
Elders often feel nervous when it comes to completing tasks because of old age and weak bodies. You feel that you cannot complete tasks on time. To tackle this situation, you can rank activities based on their priority.
Like, the high-priority tasks must be completed in the mornings when you have relatively high energy. And other low-priority tasks can be completed later in the day. This will give you the assurance that your important task is already done.
One common issue after you age is that you tend to forget things. So it is better to write it down and stick it on the wall so that you don’t forget your to-do’s.
Make Life Easy and Comfortable
Most elders have poor vision and hearing ability. Also, with low muscle strength and low body flexibility, elders feel less stable on their feet. There are certain changes that you can make to make your life easier and more comfortable than before.
Mobility Aids
It is essential to have some sort of mobility equipment that will give you support while you walk. Because less stability on feet can lead to falls which is exactly what we are trying to avoid. There are various mobility aids like canes, crutches, wheelchairs, walking frames, rollators, scooters, etc.
As per your needs and ability to walk, you can choose from one of these aids that will help you complete your tasks independently.
Bathroom/Toileting Aids
For elders, it is difficult to walk on wet bathroom floors. Also with weak knees, it is difficult to stand up and sit down while using a toilet. To ensure you have safe and independent me-time you can install aids like grab bars or rails, non-slip mat, toilet seat cushion, portable commodes, etc.
These aids will eliminate the possibility of falling on soapy floors and can access the bathroom or toilet independently.
Bedroom Aids
Elders tend to spend more time on their beds as they have back pain, leg pain, bed wetting, etc. Lying in bed the whole day can elevate your issues rather than reducing them. But with proper aid, it will help you reduce it upto a certain level.
You can invest in bed pads, bedpans, bed rails, pressure relief cushions, pressure sore cushions, leg supports, etc. You can use a pressure relief cushion while you sit to make sure your body feels comfortable. These cushions will save you from ulcers and pain.
Improve Socializations
As you age you spend more time in the house. This way socializing with friends, neighbors, and relatives is quite limited. Lesser or no socializing can impact your mental health.
To increase socializing, you can join a yoga group, music group, art group, etc. where you will get to learn new things and also to socialize with new people. You can also plan to meet your neighbors or friends who live nearby.
Conclusion
Updating small things in your routine can make a vast difference for your physical and mental health. Simple products like pressure relief cushion, pressure sore cushion, leg support, etc. can provide you comfort and support your body needs. This is a small way to initiate a happy independent life.