Many seniors are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, but the good news is there are steps aging adults can take to stave off the disease. Healthy lifestyle choices are natural prevention methods that can boost overall health and lower the risk of various age-related conditions, including Parkinson’s. Continue reading to learn about natural ways seniors can prevent Parkinson’s.
Manage Blood Sugar Levels
When the bloodstream contains high levels of sugar, the proteins circulating in the body get damaged, and that damage can cause significant harm to brain cells that control movement. When dopamine-producing neurons die, symptoms associated with Parkinson’s typically appear, such as tremors, balance problems, muscle weakness, and poor posture. Appropriately managing blood sugar levels and preventing insulin resistance can decrease the risk of developing Parkinson’s in the senior years. Your elderly loved one can achieve this by cutting sugar out of his or her diet, staying physically active, and avoiding processed foods.If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of homecare.Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Get Plenty of Vitamin D
Vitamin D can stave off cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms and decrease the odds of developing Parkinson’s. Increase your loved one’s vitamin D intake by adding more omega-3 fatty acids and dairy products to his or her diet and boosting sunlight exposure by planning safe adventures and outdoor activities. Without adequate amounts of this vitamin, the body doesn’t absorb enough calcium or phosphorus to function correctly.
Stay Active
Physical exercise can boost brain function and lead to better motor coordination, flexibility, and grip strength in older adults. Activities such as cycling, walking on a treadmill, and swimming are safe and can stave off cognitive decline. Following an exercise routine can boost memory and thinking skills and reduce the risk of slips, falls, and head traumas. When exercising, your loved one stimulates brain cells and uses dopamine more efficiently by modifying areas of the brain where dopamine signals are received. As a result, your loved one can enhance his or her quality of life and prevent Parkinson’s disease.Professional caregivers can be a wonderful source of support and information about healthy lifestyle habits for seniors. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Winnipeg, MB, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Reduce Stress Levels
Failing to protect mental and emotional wellbeing can affect brain health and physical abilities, increasing the risk of Parkinson’s. A natural way to boost quality of life and stave off neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s is to reduce stress. Your parent can lower stress by staying socially active, following a healthy diet full of foods that enhance mood, and avoiding stressful situations and people. Encourage your loved one to develop healthy habits that have a positive effect on mental health and prevent inflammation in the brain, such as participating in arts and crafts, taking cooking classes to learn more about healthy eating, or joining a senior-friendly group or sports team.Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type ofelderly home care. Winnipegfamilies can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ 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. Call one of our friendly Care Managers at (204) 489-6000 to schedule a free consultation.
