Joint pain from arthritis often limits movements. It worsens as you age. You’ll notice it when your mom is walking up and down the stairs. You might see your dad limping or walking with a shuffling gait when he first stands up after sitting down for a while.
Your mom is having a hard time standing in the kitchen for extended periods. Your dad used to prep vegetables with ease, but you’ve noticed he has a hard time gripping the knife. When joint pain is making daily tasks more challenging, your parents will benefit from home care services.
Arthritis is a Key Reason for Joint Pain
Decades of movement wear out joints over time. For some, the joint pain isn’t too hard to manage. For others, the worn cartilage causes bone ends to rub together. The resulting pain makes it hard to stand up, move around, and do the things that used to be so easy to do.
Arthritis can affect any joint, but your mom and dad may feel it the most in the hips, knees, ankles, wrists, and fingers. If the type of arthritis known as gout is present, the crystals often build up in the big toes, which makes it hard to walk, put on socks and shoes, or cover the feet in sheets or blankets while sleeping.
Diet and exercise help with arthritis. The best way to stay mobile is by getting up each day and exercising. It can be hard to move around when the pain is present, but it’s important. Your parents may want to have a caregiver there for moral support while they get the exercise they need.
Pain relievers like ibuprofen help control the pain on particularly bad days. If your parents are unlikely to remember when they last took a pill, they may need caregivers to help them with medication reminders and prevent them from taking too many pills each day.
What are your mom’s and dad’s struggles around the home? Have they stopped trying to vacuum the stairs? Do they time laundry days for the days you can help them? If you’re noticing that they’re having a harder time with daily activities, it’s time to talk about home care.
With home care services, they have help with meal preparation, transportation, housekeeping, laundry, medication reminders, and much more. They don’t have to struggle. Home care ensures they live independently without risking happiness or safety.
If you or an aging loved one needs Home Care in Folsom, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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