Helping Seniors Manage Knee Pain
Talem Home Care & Placement Services
For more information about the author, click to view their website: Talem Home Care & Placement Services
Jan 09, 2024
Colorado - Boulder County
Knee pain is common in older people and can make it hard for them to do things they once loved. Everyday things like walking, going up and down stairs, and even sitting down can be hard. Although there isn’t a single best way to deal with knee pain, there are a number of tricks and tips that can help seniors feel better and live a better life, especially with the support of home care and their loved ones. Continue reading to learn more.
Keep Moving
This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s best to keep moving through the pain unless the doctor has said not to. For instance, low-impact exercises like swimming, stationary cycling, and gentle yoga are all activities that can help keep joints mobile and build muscles without putting too much stress on the knees. Plus, regular exercise can also help seniors lose weight, which is very important for easing the stress on your knees.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Speaking of weight, being overweight can make knee pain a lot worse because the extra weight puts more stress on the joints. The home care team can help seniors stay at a healthy weight by assisting them with healthy meal plans.
Wear Supportive Shoes
The shoes that seniors wear can have a big effect on their knee pain. Shoes that support the arch and soften the foot can help keep the knees from hurting. A podiatrist may sometimes suggest custom shoes to give their feet more support.
Mobility Devices Might Also Help
When necessary, seniors can use canes, walkers, or knee braces to help spread their weight out more evenly and put less stress on their knees when they walk or stand. These devices offer support and stability, which can be especially helpful for older people who have knee pain.
Use Hot and Cold Therapy
Knee pain can be eased by using heat and cold. Putting on a warm bandage or taking a warm bath can help loosen up tight muscles. On the other hand, ice packs can reduce swelling and numb the area. The home care team can help seniors assess which type of therapy they need.
Consider Physical Therapy
For older people who have knee pain, physical therapy can be helpful. A physical therapist can make a personalized exercise plan for them, teach them how to move their body correctly and use hands-on techniques to ease pain and improve joint movement.
Consider Over-the-Counter Painkillers
Knee pain can be eased temporarily with over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin. Before taking these medicines, seniors should talk to their doctor to make sure they are safe and right for their situation since some may not be safe for them.
Research Alternative Treatments
Some seniors may be able to ease knee pain with alternative treatments like acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic care.
For adults, knee pain doesn’t have to take them out of the game. By using a mix of these tips and tricks every day, they can better deal with and lessen their knee pain, which will make their general quality of life better. As always, it’s important to talk to a medical professional for personalized advice and help with knee pain management since everyone’s situation is different. In addition, with support from home care and loved ones, seniors can keep living an active and satisfying life.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Aurora, CO please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services today. Call (720) 789-8529
At Talem Home Care of Broomfield, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Broomfield, Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Commerce City, Denver, Erie, Firestone, Lafayette, Lakewood, Longmont, Louisville, Northglenn, Sherrelwood, Thornton, Welby, Westminster, Wheat Ridge and surrounding areas in Colorado.
- To view the original version of this article visit www.talemhomecare.com/broomfield/home-care-helping-seniors-manage-knee-pain/
- Seniors Blue Book was not involved in the creation of this content.
Other Articles You May Like
Medication Tips For Seniors
Did you know that nearly one-third of the population has difficulty swallowing pills? Most people dont swallow pills correctly. This often results in gagging, choking, and vomiting, which usually results in people not taking their medications at all, or not taking the recommended dosage, which then results in a need for later additional medical care.If you are caring for a senior who has trouble swallowing their pills, here are some medication tips and some good news. Researchers have found new techniques that make pill-popping easier, even for large pills.German researchers recently tested two methods of swallowing pills and found that 80% of the time these methods worked better than the normal way of taking a pill. The first is the pop-bottle method, and it makes tablets go down with ease. The second is the lean-forward technique, which sends capsules straight down the throat. Both have been rigorously tested by 151 volunteers who swallowed numerous dummy pills for the sake of science. And now they are being shared with the world via their publication in the Annals of Family Medicine.Read about each method so you can try it yourself or have the senior you are caring for try it. Just may make life a little easier for you both.
Caregivers Forced to Choose Between Caring for a Loved One and a Job
At least 42 percent of U.S. workers have been caregivers for aging loved ones in the last five years. In fact, most family caregivers work full or part-time while caring for their parent, spouse, aunt, uncle, or other loved one. Juggling Your Job and Caring for a Loved One The majority (68 percent) of family caregivers report making work accommodations because of caregiving duties, including: Arriving late/leaving early or taking time off Cutting back on work hours Changing jobs Stopping work entirely If this is you, you understand the challenge of juggling work and caregiving. Youll want to know that AARP is fighting for workplace flexibility, like family leave or paid or unpaid sick leave, to support family caregivers as they balance work and caregiving responsibilities. AARP is pushing for legislation that would: Let employees use their existing sick time to help care for a family member; or Give employees a few hours of unpaid time each year to help care for their loved ones; or Allow employees unpaid leave to take their loved ones to the doctor, in the same way 15 states allow employees to take unpaid time off to attend parent-teacher conferences and school events.
Embarrassing Things People With Dementia Say
Many people with dementia lose their social filters and no longer understand what is or is not appropriate to say in public. They do not say embarrassing things intentionally but have indeed lost the lens they used to live with. You may have encountered situations like these: Person with Dementia upon hearing someone speaking a different language: Speak English! or they may use a racial slur to describe them.I have seen and heard many elders using racial references that were, to say the least, disrespectful. It doesnt necessarily mean the people are racist. Many of our elders grew up in much less diverse communities than we have today. They have simply lost whatever inhibitions they may have had. When they see someone of another ethnicity, they blurt out labels that they heard as youths, embarrassing everyone involved.How to respond: One of my clients used to make these remarks frequently. He also had travelled a lot. I would apologize calmly to the person and then begin talking about what language I thought they might be speaking and what country they might be from, asking my client if he had ever been there on his travels. This could lead him into a conversation about travel. If the person, he was making the remark about was on staff at the nursing home Id include them in the conversation.Person with Dementia, generally a man pinches a woman or otherwise acts out sexually: Nice butt!Stay calm and realize that this behavior is caused by the disease. Dementia has stripped your dad of his inhibitions and he really cant help it. Try not to overreact from embarrassment.How to respond: Calmly say, Thats inappropriate, Dad, or something to indicate that the action is not acceptable. It wont help to scold, however. Apologize to the person affected and then if possible, move your dad away. Explain to the person that dad has Alzheimers and his actions are the result of the disease. If you cant defuse the situation by moving him away, just allow the affected person to handle it. If it happens to a professional caregiver, they are trained to handle these situations.When these and other uncomfortable situations occur, we are embarrassed for ourselves and for the person our elder once was. Learning that we arent alone in enduring this public embarrassment helps, Talk with other caregivers, either in person or online, for perspective and the chance to laugh about these situations. When we share our stories with people who understand, our pain and embarrassment doesnt take on a life of its own. Try a caregiver forum, such as the one at AgingCare.com
Local Services By This Author
Talem Home Care & Placement Services
Housing Placement & Resource Specialists 80 Garden Center, Broomfield, Colorado, 80020Your Family is Our Family!At Talem Home Care, we are proud to be one of Colorado's premier senior care life enrichment companies, dedicated to enhancing the well-being and quality of life for aging individuals. Aging shouldn't be stressful or uncertain. Every family deserves access to the best information and support to make informed decisions for their loved ones.As a life enrichment company specializing in senior care, our mission is to provide holistic support through these key principles: - Comprehensive Senior Care - Wellness-Focused Services - Engagement and Social Interaction - Personalized Senior Care - Community Connection - Positive ImpactOur team of Certified Senior Advisors is dedicated to providing expert advice, professionalism, and compassion, reassuring families as they navigate the aging process.Let us help you find the appropriate senior living community!!Our ServicesAt Talem Home Care, we offer a broad range of senior-focused services designed to support the well-being and independence of seniors: - Senior Placement Services - Home Care Services - Free Care Navigation & Advocation - Veterans Care - Alzheimers and Dementia Care - Hospice Support - Life Enrichment Program - Photo Reminiscence Therapy (PRT) Our VisionOur vision is to empower people to experience the full joy of living. This core belief drives everything we do at Talem Home Care. We aim to help our staff, clients, and community partners achieve their goals by providing every opportunity for success.At Talem, we recognize that our dedicated staff is key to our success. Thats why we prioritize creating a supportive, family-friendly work environment that is flexible, low-stress and focused on delivering the best customer care.For Our ClientsOur senior care services promote greater independence, self-confidence, and the freedom to live on their terms. For Our Community Talem Home Care - Broomfield takes pride in being a responsible community partner dedicated to improving the quality of life for the communities we serve. We also respect the importance of work-life balance and celebrate the diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds that make us who we are. Whether you need home care, care management, senior placement, veterans care, Alzheimers and dementia care, hospice support, medical equipment, or even someone to help with daily tasks like snow shoveling, Talem Home Care is here to help.
Talem Home Care & Placement Services
Non-Medical 80 Garden Center, Broomfield, Colorado, 80020Your Family is Our Family!At Talem Home Care, we are proud to be one of Colorado's premier senior care life enrichment companies, dedicated to enhancing the well-being and quality of life for aging individuals. Aging shouldn't be stressful or uncertain. Every family deserves access to the best information and support to make informed decisions for their loved ones.As a life enrichment company specializing in senior care, our mission is to provide holistic support through these key principles: - Comprehensive Senior Care - Wellness-Focused Services - Engagement and Social Interaction - Personalized Senior Care - Community Connection - Positive ImpactOur team of Certified Senior Advisors is dedicated to providing expert advice, professionalism, and compassion, reassuring families as they navigate the aging process.Our ServicesAt Talem Home Care, we offer a broad range of senior-focused services designed to support the well-being and independence of seniors: - Senior Placement Services - Home Care Services - Free Care Navigation & Advocation - Veterans Care - Alzheimers and Dementia Care - Hospice Support - Life Enrichment Program - Photo Reminiscence Therapy (PRT) Our VisionOur vision is to empower people to experience the full joy of living. This core belief drives everything we do at Talem Home Care. We aim to help our staff, clients, and community partners achieve their goals by providing every opportunity for success.At Talem, we recognize that our dedicated staff is key to our success. Thats why we prioritize creating a supportive, family-friendly work environment that is flexible, low-stress and focused on delivering the best customer care.For Our ClientsOur senior care services promote greater independence, self-confidence, and the freedom to live on their terms. For Our Community Talem Home Care - Broomfield takes pride in being a responsible community partner dedicated to improving the quality of life for the communities we serve. We also respect the importance of work-life balance and celebrate the diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds that make us who we are. Whether you need home care, care management, senior placement, veterans care, Alzheimers and dementia care, hospice support, medical equipment, or even someone to help with daily tasks like snow shoveling, Talem Home Care is here to help.
Talem Home Care & Placement Services
Non-Medical 80 Garden Center, Broomfield, Colorado, 80020Your Family is Our Family!At Talem Home Care, we are proud to be one of Colorado's premier senior care life enrichment companies, dedicated to enhancing the well-being and quality of life for aging individuals.Aging shouldn't be stressful or uncertain. Every family deserves access to the best information and support to make informed decisions for their loved ones.As a life enrichment company specializing in senior care, our mission is to provide holistic support through these key principles: - Comprehensive Senior Care - Wellness-Focused Services - Engagement and Social Interaction - Personalized Senior Care - Community Connection - Positive ImpactOur team of Certified Senior Advisors is dedicated to providing expert advice, professionalism, and compassion, reassuring families as they navigate the aging process.Our ServicesAt Talem Home Care, we offer a broad range of senior-focused services designed to support the well-being and independence of seniors: - Home Care Services - Free Care Management - Senior Placement Services - Veterans Care - Alzheimers and Dementia Care - Hospice Support - Life Enrichment Program - Photo Reminiscence Therapy (PRT)Our VisionOur vision is to empower people to experience the full joy of living. This core belief drives everything we do at Talem Home Care. We aim to help our staff, clients, and community partners achieve their goals by providing every opportunity for success.At Talem, we recognize that our dedicated staff is key to our success. Thats why we prioritize creating a supportive, family-friendly work environment that is flexible, low-stress and focused on delivering the best customer care.For Our ClientsOur senior care services promote greater independence, self-confidence, and the freedom to live on their terms.For Our CommunityTalem Home Care - Broomfield takes pride in being a responsible community partner dedicated to improving the quality of life for the communities we serve. We also respect the importance of work-life balance and celebrate the diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds that make us who we are.Whether you need home care, care management, senior placement, veterans care, Alzheimers and dementia care, hospice support, medical equipment, or even someone to help with daily tasks like snow shoveling, Talem Home Care is here to help.