How to Keep a Senior Citizen Parent Healthy

Keeping your senior citizen parent healthy may seem like quite a challenge. You can help your senior citizen parents a great deal by understanding their needs as they age. Staying healthy as they age is as important to them as it is to you. With your help, your parents can age gracefully. Read on to learn how to keep a senior citizen parent healthy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Be aware of health issues and watch for signs of common diseases affecting seniors. Weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath can be a sign of heart disease. Changes in appetite, weight loss or gain, sores that don't heal well or changes in eyesight can be signs of diabetes. Losing height and hunching over are signs of osteoporosis. Sudden weight loss or pain can be signs of cancer. Difficulty in speech, loss of feeling to one side of the body or confusion can be signs of a stroke.
2. Accompany your parent to a doctor or emergency room if any signs or symptoms are present. Discuss diet, exercise and treatment options with the doctor and your senior citizen parent. Ask questions about what to expect and pursue further treatment if needed. Make sure the doctor knows about all the medications your parent is taking.
3. Contact a home health agency if your parent is being released from a hospital or nursing home. Home health agencies are covered to some extent under Medicare and most insurance policies. Depending on the medical problem, the home health agency can assign nurses, aides, speech therapists and physical therapists to your parents case. The home health workers will make appointments to visit the home and render care at the home. In most cases, the visits last less than an hour.
4. Follow any special diet the doctor may recommend, including a heart healthy diet or diabetic diet. Appetites tend to decrease in senior citizens so it is best to eat smaller meals more frequently. Healthy meals are available through Meals-on-Wheels for a donation, and they taste good too. Contact your county senior services agency about Meals-on-Wheels.
5. Avoid accidents and falls by checking the house for loose carpets that a senior parent can trip on. Remove any extension cords across a walkway. Keep pathways clear of obstacles that could cause a fall. Buy non-skid socks or shoes for better grip on slippery floors.
6. Walk with your senior citizen parent. Take a walk after dinner or go shopping in the mall. Swimming helps relieve pressure on joints while helping with a whole range of motion. Dancing can be a fun social exercise and golf incorporates a game and walking at the same time.
7. Exercise the mind and keep it active by doing crossword puzzles, word games and reading. Teach your senior citizen parent how to get online and find sites that interest them, such as genealogy, crafts or woodworking. Ask your parent to write their family history. An alert mind will keep your senior citizen parent optimistic and that will help to keep them healthy.

Tips & Warnings

• Increase the intake of water, fruit and fruit juices to aid in elimination--a common problem in the senior if they are taking pain medication or have a decreased level of activity.
• Decrease liquid consumption close to bedtime to help alleviate night time trips to the bathroom.