While changing and aging bodies are naturally bound to experience physical discomfort, there’s no denying that watching your elderly loved one suffer from elderly pains and aches can feel downright heartbreaking.
The senior citizens in your life may fall prey to a variety of painful, age-induced afflictions. While experiencing joint, bone, or muscle pain is common elderly pain, you can be sure that it’s no fun for you or your family member. From muscle wasting and osteoporosis to arthritis and injury from falls, the effects of passing time can wreak havoc on an elderly body.
Unless you’ve got access to a time machine, the onset of physical distress is practically unavoidable. Still, all hope for relief is not lost. Consult these tips to ease elderly pain and get your loved one on the fast track to feeling better.
Tips to ease elderly pain
Choose a mobility aid wisely
If your elderly loved one is a chronic sloucher and suffers from severe back pain, poor posture may be a primary culprit. Get your hands on a mobility aid that fosters an upright posture and increases stability while moving. Traditional walkers keep their users hunched over, but an upright walker like The Perfect Walker can proactively stave off muscle tension and back discomfort while encouraging mobile independence.
Turn up the heat (and bring on the cold)
When it comes to soothing joint and muscle pain, reducing inflammation is the name of the game. A dip in a hot bath or the embrace of a warm compress can provide some much-needed tension release for aching muscles.
To avoid burns caused by prolonged heat application, invest in a heating pad that switches off automatically after a period of time. You can craft a DIY cold compress by filling a gallon bag with ice and wrapping it in a towel or putting a damp towel in the freezer until the towel is icy. Your loved one will be sure to appreciate the elderly pain-numbing properties and the simple ease of cold therapy.
Encourage mental exercise
When in the throes of what feels like a purely physical battle, it can be challenging to remember that elderly pain management is also a mental game. Chronic pain and age-related symptoms take a toll on the mind, so building up mindful defenses is necessary.
Since meditation has been proven to help soothe parts of the brain that process pain, encouraging your loved one to learn about mindful meditation via internet training or community meditation classes may improve mental and physical pain tolerance.
Get moving
Whether you invite your aging companion on a stroll in the park or encourage them to sign up for a local aerobics class, help your elderly loved one take strides towards a healthy lifestyle.
With an exercise routine comprised of gentle movements and light exercise, you can improve your loved one’s flexibility, decrease stiffness, ease elderly pain, and prevent long-term muscle loss. Remember to take it slow and respect your family member’s comfort levels so that they’ll remain motivated and excited about staying active.
Consult your family doctor
While do-it-yourself pain-relief options are available, effective treatments require a medical prescription. Furthermore, your doctor may have specialized knowledge and recommendations to share with you and your family to ensure that your aging family member obtains safe and appropriate treatment.
Discuss over the counter and prescription medications that can be administered daily for advanced conditions such as arthritis or osteoporosis and pain management plans for more severe flare-ups.
The physical and emotional pain currently weighing down your elderly loved ones isn’t a permanent state of being. With access to effective pain management solutions and a loving support system, your loved one can quickly get back to feeling forever young.
