How to Care For Your Loved One with Arthritis

 

Caregiver in Los Angeles CA

If you are caring for an aging parent or senior loved one with arthritis, then you may be at a lost at the best way to treat the symptoms and reduce his or her discomfort.  Arthritis refers to about 100 diseases of the joints and it affects more than half of seniors over 65. These chronic diseases cause swelling and pain in a person’s joints, greatly reducing mobility.  So, what do you need to know about caring for your loved one with arthritis as a caregiver?  There are many questions to be answered. Here are some things you need to know about caring for your loved one with arthritis:

Is exercise okay?

Yes, it is recommended that your loved one exercises as long as it is not too strenuous and falls in line with his or her level of ability. If pain continues for at least two hours after exercising then the amount of exercise was probably too much.

Here are some additional tips that may help. When exercising, your loved one should:

●       Consider working with a physical therapist to learn how to do exercises that are specific to his or her type of arthritis.

●       Move his or her joints to help reduce stiffness.

●       Try water exercises which tend to be less painful for people with arthritis.

●       Stop exercising if he or she gets too tired.

What are the best ways to manage pain?

For your loved one with arthritis, physical pain leads to emotional stress. Emotional stress causes muscle tightness which increases pain. It is an unfortunate cycle that can require around-the-clock pain management. In addition to prescribed medication, help your loved one try relaxation techniques like visualization and meditation for severe pain.

Are there any general tips that can help ease the pain and discomfort associated with arthritis?

In general, your loved one will experience regular discomfort, the severity of which will depend on the severity of the arthritis. Luckily, there are some general techniques your loved one can try to help reduce the discomfort. They include:

●       Frequently change positions

●       Applying heat or cold sequentially for only 15 minutes at a time on ailing joints

●       Using a heating pad or take a warm shower in the morning to ease morning stiffness

●       Heating up clothes in the dryer for a minute or two before putting them on

●       Using hot water bottles on the sore areas

●       Applying cold pack on swollen joints

●       Using a pizza slicer or scissors to cut vegetables safely

●       Using foam wrap foam tubing to grip door knobs easier

●       Attaching key rings to zippers to make them easier to grasp

If you or an aging loved one needs caregiver services in Los Angeles, CA, call Livewell Private Care at (310) 933-4986.  Servicing Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding areas.

Sources

Care.com