Arthritis: If your elderly family member has arthritis, you probably already know that there are times when arthritis pain can be truly overwhelming.
These arthritis tips may help her to manage the pain and discomfort a bit.
Keep Things that Help Your Senior Close to Her
Your elderly family member is more likely to experience arthritis pain at specific points in her day, like first thing in the morning and last thing at night. In the morning, she is more likely to be stiff and sore from being asleep and at night, she may have overdone it at points. Keeping helpful items close to her bedside can help quite a bit, so that she doesn’t have to go far to get what she needs.
Experiment with Soaking in a Hot Bath
Some people with arthritis find that soaking in a hot bath helps. Adding Epsom salts might be beneficial, too. Epsom salts are made of magnesium, which can help to ease tightness and pain in joints and muscles. That’s especially helpful on a day when your senior has done more than she probably should.
Try Heat and Ice
Your elderly family member might use ice or heat, but she can use both to try to ease stiffness and pain from arthritis. Heat is best when muscles are stiff and need to loosen up. Ice is better when inflammation, particularly in joints, is causing difficulty. That might mean that your elderly family member alternates heat and ice a few times a day to get relief.
Choose Tools that Help
Adaptive tools can also make a huge difference for a senior with arthritis. Your elderly family member might benefit from eating utensils made for people with arthritis, for instance. Or if she has trouble walking, rolling walkers or canes can offer support and relief.
Arthritis: Consider Adding Elder Care Services to Her Toolkit
It’s also a good idea to consider adding elder care providers to your senior’s list of hacks and tools. When it’s difficult for her to do specific things, elder care providers can offer assistance. They can also be there to help your senior to have what she needs, like an ice pack when inflammation is getting to be too painful.
Arthritis pain can put a dent in your elderly family member’s quality of life. Trying some of these hacks can help her to feel as if her life is her own again.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Scottsdale, AZ, or anywhere in the East Valley, please contact the caring staff at Legacy Home Care.
Call (480) 777-0070
Legacy Home Care has been serving the valley since 2007. We are family owned and operated with over 75 caregivers. We offer a customized care plan that includes services such as: Hourly Senior Home Care, 24-Hour Home Care, Dementia Care, Personal Care and Companion Care. Also ask us about our Veterans' Home Care program.
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