Caregiving for Senior Citizens

We are used to taking care of loved ones in the comfort of our homes. However, when a caregiver is assigned it is pertinent to understand how they can extend assistance in the absence of children.

Planning Ahead

We should speak with our parents to understand the kind of help they think they need and how they’d like to get it. It can be difficult at times to plan ahead because one may not know how situations unfold in days to come.

We should ask these questions: Is our loved one able to stay at home alone with help from time to time, or would it be better to provide them with full time caregiver assistance.

Types of Care

A caregiver may have to provide different kinds of support depending on the needs:

Personal care: Caregiver can help with bathing, dressing, grooming and other personal care. For aging parents, it is a role reversal because they’re used to taking care of their kids.

Household help: Caregiver can also assist in cleaning, laundry, and yard work. Food also can be a key part of caregiving. An elderly person may need help for grocery shopping and preparing healthy meals.

Emotional support: An elderly person look forward to spending time with his/ her children just talking and by way of emotional support. They may also expect to rely on regular visits by children so they don’t get lonely. Sometimes older people can easily forget things or get grumpy. This is when the role of caregiver becomes important in the absence of children.

Health care: A caregiver may need help with their medical requirements like making sure they take medicines or go with them for doctor’s appointments. To make it easier, one can prepare pill boxes that have each day’s pills ready for a whole week. A caregiver can assist by taking a senior citizen for doctor visits to ask questions and take notes.

Understand Health Issues

There’s a chance of some health concerns as well. Older people often have issues like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, depression etc.

It’s important that the caregiver is aware of such issues. One should be able to spot symptoms if things get worse. The caregiver should be better prepared for doctor visits to give updates on their health.

Make the Home Safe

Whether parents are is staying in their home or their children make safety a priority. Take steps to reduce their risk of falling, and other basic safety measures like these:

• Remove throw rugs.

• Place non-skid strips on hardwood and tile floors.

• Add safety rails in showers and tubs and near the toilet.

• Reduce water temperature to below 120 F (48.9 C).

• Move furniture and clear clutter to create clear, wide paths.

• Place nightlights throughout the home.

• Cover stairs with non-skid strips or carpet, and install nightlights at the top

• and bottom.

  
  

Know That Plans Can Change

One may have a care plan today that’s working well. But it may change as well. And if a caregiver is injured or is down with an illness like COVID-19, a backup plan has to be in place. Choose someone who can take care of your loved one if you can’t.

Take Care of oneself

The caregiver has to take care of oneself so that he/ she more focused and do a better job. There are a few things that one can do to stay on top of the game:

• Make time for sleep. A daily routine can help having sleep on time.

• Don’t forget to eat. A caregiver should also have meals at regular intervals.

Orthopaedic Problems in Senior Citizens: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Orthopaedic problems in older adults are widespread—more than 50% of people over 65 experience orthopaedic pain. While most conditions are not life-threatening, so they do not worsen. This article discusses senior citizens' most common orthopaedic issues, symptoms, and treatments. Senior citizens' most common orthopaedic problems include osteoporosis, fractures, osteoarthritis, and dislocations. Some commonly observed orthopaedic problems reported by senior citizens are: 

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the bones to become weak and more likely to break. It is widespread among older people because they have less muscle mass and their bones lose calcium over the years. Doctors often recommend weight-bearing exercises like walking or jogging to help strengthen the muscles around the hips and legs. 

The weight-bearing exercises may also help prevent falls due to decreased balance as you age. People with osteoporosis should also wear protective gear when participating in activities with a high risk of injury from falling onto hard ground surfaces such as concrete or asphalt.

Osteoarthritis

A common condition of arthritis in senior citizens, osteoarthritis, causes gradual cartilage degeneration. Cartilage is a tough, smooth tissue that cushions and protects bones at joints. When you move, this cartilage helps reduce friction between your bones and provides a shock-absorbing effect while allowing movement.

When osteoarthritis develops, the articular (joint) cartilage loses its cushioning function, so bones rub together instead of gliding smoothly over each other as they should, leading to pain and stiffness in affected joints. 

Fractures

Fractures are a common problem among senior citizens. Fractures result from falls, sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents. There are many different types of fractures:

• Closed fracture

  The bone breaks through the skin but does not break apart into two or more pieces. Closed fractures usually heal on their own with rest, medication and therapy. The doctor may have to remove parts of bone or metal before this happens, though!

• Open fracture

  The bone breaks through the skin and enters an open wound; it may also split into two or more pieces that cannot be put back together without surgery (this is called an unstable fracture). Open fractures require immediate surgery, so you don't lose too much blood from your injury. 

Dislocations

Another problem that affects the joints of older adults is dislocation. Dislocations are joints forced out of their normal position, either by a blow to the body or twisting the joint. Dislocations can cause severe pain and swelling, and sometimes even bone damage. Most dislocations do not require surgery if treated within 24 hours, but they should still be seen in an emergency room as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of Orthopedic Problems in Senior Citizens

The following tests diagnose orthopaedic problems in senior citizens:

• X-rays

  An x-ray is a form of radiation that allows us to see inside the body without making a cut. X-rays are used in medicine to diagnose many conditions, including broken bones. 

• CT scans

  CT scans are a type of x-ray that uses an electron beam and computer processing to generate cross-sectional images of body parts.

MRI scans

MRI uses radio waves to create images of organs or other structures inside your body. MRI doesn't hurt, and it';s safe for everyone, including senior citizens.

Bone density test

Bone density tests measure the amount and quality of bone in your skeleton and your risk for fractures. They can help determine whether treatment is necessary to avoid broken bones in the future.

Physical examination

An orthopaedic specialist's detailed analysis of the patient's joints, muscles,

and bones and a review of their medical history. An orthopaedic doctor may

also need blood tests to check for arthritis-related conditions such as

rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Treatments of Orthopaedic problems in senior citizens:

Medicines

An orthopaedic doctor may prescribe drugs to treat your condition.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy includes exercises that strengthen and stretch muscles, help restore normal joint motion and alignment and improve mobility and balance. A physical therapist also trains to use assistive devices such as canes or walkers for support when walking around.

Surgery

Doctors consider surgery when other treatments have failed to provide relief from pain or restore function in an injured area of the body. Surgery treats fractures that do not heal properly on their own within six weeks after injury, dislocation injuries where the bones don't fall into place naturally and narrowing spinal disks.

Lifestyle Changes For A Better Orthopaedic Health

As senior citizens age, their bones can become more brittle, leading to various orthopaedic health issues. Fortunately, some lifestyle changes can help prevent these issues from occurring.

• Walk

  Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do to maintain healthy bones and joints as you age. Even thirty minutes of walking every day or other aerobic activity can help keep your bones strong and flexible.

• Diet Rich In Calcium, Vitamin D, Proteins And Other Nutrients

It is essential to ensure enough calcium in your diet for bone health. Vitamin D helps promote calcium absorption in your body, and proteins are necessary for bone and muscle health.

• Regular Check-up

Ensure regular check-up with your doctor so they can monitor any changes in your bone health over time and recommend any additional steps you may need to take for optimal bone health as an older adult.

The treatment of orthopaedic problems in senior citizens is a challenging area for healthcare professionals. Orthopaedic conditions are more common among older people, and these individuals may have additional comorbidities that could complicate treatment. 

Adapted from: https://www.manipalhospitals.com/kharadi/blog/orthopaedic-

problems-in-senior-citizens-diagnosis-and-treatment-options/

Walking – The benefits for older people

Walking has so many benefits for older people. It can improve your health and wellbeing in many ways, and it can help you to live independently for longer.

Walking can:

• Strengthen your muscles.

• Help keep your weight steady.

• Lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, colon cancer and diabetes.

• Strengthen your bones, and prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (regular walking could halve the number of people over 45 who fracture their hip).

• Help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension.

• Improve your balance and coordination, and decrease your likelihood of falling.

• Keep your joints flexible.

• Increase your confidence and mood, and help you feel better all round.

• Improve your energy levels and increase your stamina.

• Reduce anxiety or depression.

• Improve your social life – walking is a great way to get out and meet people or socialise with your friends.

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Being able to walk without help is one of the strongest indicators of whether someone can live independently. Older people who exercise regularly are more likely to walk without assistance and do things for themselves around the house.

Exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous to be beneficial for your health. In fact, the Australian Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines recommend older people aged over 65 do 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity each day.

You could choose to walk at a steady pace for longer periods, or in shorter, quicker bursts, or up and down hills or stairs. It all helps.

Before you start walking for exercise

Almost every older person can do some form of exercise. But before you begin, talk to your GP about the level of exercise that’s right for you. This is especially important if you haven’t exercised for a while, or you want to try something particularly strenuous.

If you have any conditions or health problems, even if it doesn’t seem significant, it’s important to consult your doctor for guidance. They can help you choose suitable activities to match your health and fitness needs, or they may refer you to an exercise professional. You might be eligible for a free preventative health check. Ask your doctor if you qualify.

Some questions you may want to ask your doctor include:

• Are there any exercises I should avoid?

• Could any illness, operation or injury I’ve had affect how I exercise?

• How can I exercise safely if I have high blood pressure, diabetes or

cardiovascular disease?

• How can I increase my exercise gradually?

• How can I manage any ongoing health conditions I have (such as arthritis)?

• If your doctor has concerns about a particular exercise, ask about the concerns and

  whether there are any alternative activities. If you develop any new symptoms after you start getting active, see your doctor straight away.

New symptoms could include:

• Dizziness.

• Chest pain.

• Shortness of breath.

• Unplanned weight loss.

• Sores that won’t heal.

• Pains anywhere in your body.

Discontinue exercising until you’ve seen your doctor and worked out what is causing your symptoms.

What you will need for walking

For starters, make sure you wear correct shoes for walking. Comfortable sneakers work well for most people. If they’re new shoes, try them on first to make sure they fit well and are comfortable.

If you have foot problems or want advice about the best suitable footwear, talk to your doctor, who can help you get started and keep your walking program on track. If you use a cane or a walker, don’t let that stop you either.

These can improve your balance and help lighten the load on your joints to make it easier when you’re out and about.

If you’d like support but don’t have a cane or a walker, talk to your GP or physiotherapist for help. Remember, all walking aids need adjustment, and should be properly maintained. So see a professional to ensure you have the right fit along with anything else you might need.

Walking with a friend

• Walking with a friend or loved one has many benefits:

• It makes exercise more fun.

• It helps you make new friends, and build up friendships you already have.

• It is harder to cancel a walk when you know you have a friend waiting for you.

• You’ll probably walk further and meet more often with a friend.

• Walking with a friend is safe

  
  

Source: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Walking-the-benefits-for-older-people