As people age, it’s very common to experience certain aches and pains associated with either injury or just the changing of the body. However, just because this is normal doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do to combat this discomfort.
If you have an elderly loved one, be it someone in an assisted living facility or someone who’s still living on their own, there are things you can do to help them when they are experiencing physical aches and pains. To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to help your elderly loved one deal with aches and pains.
Work With Heat And Cold
Depending on where the aches and pains are and what exactly is causing them, you can help your eldelry loved one use heat or cold to help ease the pain and tension.
If there is intense pain or inflammation in an area, using cold first might be the best idea, as cold can help to numb the area and reduce swelling. For aches and pains that are brought on by stiffness or muscle pains, using heat first might be the best option, as this can help to loosen things up and get more blood flowing to the area. Just be careful that you never apply anything too hot or too cold directly to the skin, as this could burn them and cause even more pain.
Try To Keep Their Body Moving
When your body is in pain, it can be hard to want to move around a lot. However, if the aches and pains that your eldelry loved one is experiencing have come about because of stiffness in their body, moving around more could be exactly what they need.
To do this, encourage your loved one to start off small by doing things like chair exercises or taking short walks. As they are better able to do things like this, you can help them learn how to do basic yoga stretches, do light weight lifting, or even try doing activities like swimming. As they move their body more, they might notice a big decrease in the aches and pains they feel.
Consider Additional Therapies
There are other therapies that could be helpful for reducing aches and pains for your elderly loved one, too. Some of these things could include acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, hypnosis, and more. While your elderly loved one might be a little more hesitant about trying these things, it’s good to know that these options are available and could prove to be very helpful.
If your elderly loved one is having aches and pains that they’re having a hard time managing on their own, consider using the tips mentioned above to help them find some relief.