How Can Seniors Protect Bone Health at Any Age?
24-Hour Home Care in South River NJ
Worries over bone health can have a huge impact on senior well-being. Sometimes seniors even lose mobility because they become afraid of falling and injuring themselves, including breaking a bone. Maintaining strong bones is a massive goal for seniors, especially if they plan to age in place. 24-hour home care providers can help seniors to stay safe at home while also trying out a variety of changes that can help them to preserve healthy bones.
Incorporate Gentle Exercise
Exercise doesn’t just keep the heart strong and the muscles working. Exercise can also help to improve bone strength, especially when seniors are doing low-impact weight-bearing exercise. Yoga and walking are just two examples of exercise that seniors can start out slowly with and ramp up over time. Both help to improve not just muscle strength, but also balance and coordination, too, which can help with fall prevention.
Get Enough Calcium
Calcium is what most people think about when they think about bone health. As seniors age, their bones lose calcium, so it has to be replenished. Eating foods like dark leafy greens, dairy products, and foods fortified with calcium is important. Home care providers can help seniors plan meals that include foods that help boost their calcium levels.
Get Enough Vitamin D
Equally important to healthy bones is vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which is important when seniors are trying to improving calcium levels. Daily sun exposure for as little as 15 minutes can help the body create vitamin D. Dietary sources of vitamin D include foods like dairy, egg yolks, and fatty fish. Some people need additional supplementation if their vitamin D levels are extremely low, so seniors may want to check with their doctors about testing those levels.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Beyond getting specific nutrients, hopefully through food, an overall balanced diet is key for not just general well-being, but also bone health. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins helps seniors to have the nutrients they need to remain strong and healthy. 24-hour home care providers get to know the seniors they care for, including their preferences and needs, so that they’re able to offer meals and snacks that meet the senior’s needs on a variety of levels.
Limit Alcohol, Smoking, and Other Vices
Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and other similar choices can cause serious health ramifications for aging adults. Seniors are grown adults and can make their own choices, of course, but those choices can have consequences they may not like. Alcohol makes it more difficult for the body to absorb calcium, for instance. Likewise, smoking can reduce blood flow throughout the body, including to bones.
Work to Prevent Falls
Preventing falls is the next step. 24-hour home care providers can help families to stay on top of problems like clutter that can cause tripping hazards. They can also help seniors and families make simple modifications that greatly improve safety at home. Adding grab bars, using assistive devices, and watching for other issues are all part of the process.
Schedule Regular Follow-up Visits with Medical Providers
Sticking to scheduled doctor’s visits helps seniors to stay on top of health issues and keep up with changes they might be experiencing. Assessments like bone density tests detect problems like early signs of bone loss, which allows seniors to make changes. Seniors can talk with their doctors about what else they can do specifically for themselves to maintain healthy bones.
24-hour home care providers help seniors with a variety of different issues around the clock. They get to know the needs of the people they’re caring for, ensuring that seniors stay healthier and happier.
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in South River, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.
The Care Street mission is straightforward and compelling: to provide a comprehensive range of the highest quality home health services in a professional and efficient manner that will enhance our clients' quality of life and empower families to keep their loved one at home.
Care Street has earned a reputation of excellence among hundreds of families, and is recommended by medical professionals and hospital discharge planners throughout the State.
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