Strokes are common among older adults and can be life-threatening. The good news is there are ways to prevent the abrupt artery blockages responsible for strokes. Continue reading to learn about unique ways to help your senior loved one reduce the risk of stroke.
Taking a Health Course
Staging an intervention may not be as impactful as having your loved one understand what happens in real-life instances of strokes. Learning more about what causes a stroke and the impact it could have on their health could make seniors more inclined to adopt healthy lifestyles. They can read literature and go over real case studies about the seriousness of strokes and how common they are, especially in the senior years. You can enroll your loved one in health courses about strokes at a local college or look for online adult education classes and seminars on this particular subject.
Doing Unique Workouts
Physical activity can keep your loved one healthy and prevent his or her heart from working overtime, which lowers the risk of a stroke. Even with all of the benefits of exercise, it may be challenging to get your loved one to commit to a regular workout routine. You can boost your loved one’s physical activity by finding fun and unique ways to work out and getting him or her to exercise without thinking about it. For instance, you can sign your loved one up for a tennis team so he or she has fun but also moves around. Another fun way to get your loved one moving is to enroll him or her in dance lessons. There are a variety of dance routines to learn, keeping your loved one active for a more extended time.
Some seniors have mobility limitations or health conditions that make it difficult to exercise safely on their own. Every senior has different needs when aging in place. Some simply need occasional assistance with household chores, while others may be managing serious illnesses and require more extensive live-in care. Naples seniors can count on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide the in-home care they need and deserve.
Engaging in Friendly Challenges
If your parent smokes or drinks alcoholic beverages regularly, he or she could be at higher risk for a stroke. To help your loved one stop smoking or drinking, create challenges to join in on. Customize the challenges to keep your loved one encouraged. For example, the first challenge should be to smoke fewer cigarettes each day or skip drinking alcohol during mealtimes. After your loved one has completed one challenge, move on to a tougher challenge for the second round. Once your loved one has given up the bad habit completely, you can introduce new challenges that help him or her engage in positive practices, such as exercising, eating healthy, and socializing.
Some aging adults need a bit of assistance when they’re trying to adopt healthier habits. If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of Home Care Naples families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
Babysitting
Interacting with the grandchildren could provide your loved one with mental and physical benefits that boost brain function, lower stress levels, and provide physical activity. While babysitting, your loved one can play outdoor games with the grandkids or help them solve homework problems. If your children follow a healthy diet, your loved one will be responsible for cooking nutritious meals while you’re away. Your loved one will likely eat the same healthy options, which could also lower the risk of a stroke. Babysitting is a purposeful activity that makes seniors feel more accomplished, boosting their mental and emotional health.
Some aging adults may need help making lifestyle adjustments to reduce the risk of stroke and other cardiac issues. Home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. If you need professional care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today.