6 Natural Methods that Can Provide Relief for Seniors with Arthritis
By Lindsey Fancy 9 am on
Arthritis is manageable, but it will take commitment and a proper care plan. By relieving pain and managing the symptoms with natural remedies, your senior loved one can lower the odds of harmful side effects. Below are some natural arthritis remedies for seniors.
1. Weight Management
Failure to control his or her weight could cause arthritis symptoms to worsen and make daily life less tolerable for your parent. Your loved one needs to monitor his or her eating habits, stay physically active, and adopt other healthy lifestyle choices that help him or her lose weight and remain in good shape. Weight gain could negatively affect mobility, increase pain, and cause future damage to the joints. Speak with your loved one’s primary care physician for weight management tips, and find a way to incorporate those strategies into your parent’s daily life.
2. Cold & Heat Treatments
Relaxing the joints and reducing swelling can be done using hot and cold treatments. For example, placing an ice pack on your loved one’s back could reduce inflammation and relieve joint pain. When it comes to heating pads, warm baths, and electric blankets, these heat treatments minimize discomfort and ease stiffness in the arms, legs, hands, and other body parts. There are also warm oils and creams your loved one can use on his or her back to soothe arthritic pain.A home caregiver can help your loved one with daily tasks that are challenging because of arthritis pain. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable homecare.Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.
3. Massage
Muscle manipulation techniques can naturally lower anxiety while relieving arthritis pain. Having a massage can also relax your loved one’s mind and help him or her focus on things other than arthritis. Some of the best muscle manipulation techniques for older adults living with this condition include hot stone, Shiatsu, and lymphatic massages.
4. Exercise
Working out the muscles may seem painful for seniors with arthritis, but the activities can loosen the joints and relieve muscle soreness. Your loved one should take on low-impact exercises like swimming, walking, and stretching. These movements can help with blood pressure management and strengthen the muscles. Encourage your loved one to take it slow and avoid working out when his or her muscles are tense or he or she experiences pain in various areas of the body, such as in the legs, back, and arms.A professional caregiver can help your loved one exercise safely.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 senior care. Winnipeg Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
5. Vitamin D
Vitamin D can boost the immune system and build strong bones. Seniors with arthritis typically have lower vitamin D levels, causing symptoms of the disease to worsen. The best ways for the elderly to get vitamin D is from getting sunlight exposure and eating certain foods like salmon, yogurt, cheese, nuts, and mushrooms.
6. Herbs & Spices
Instead of cooking with salt, your parent should use spices with anti-inflammatory properties, such as turmeric. Herbs and spices can add flavor to meals without raising blood pressure and affecting circulation, which often lead to flare-ups. The antioxidants found in healthy spices like turmeric, black pepper, garlic, and sage can reduce inflammation in the joints and ease arthritis pain.Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional 24-hour care. Winnipeg seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more. If you need professional home care for your loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (204) 489-6000.
