If seniors are suddenly staying in bed more often, that can be upsetting for family caregivers to notice. There are a lot of different reasons this happens, so it’s a good idea for family caregivers to learn as much as they can so they can put together a plan that is likely to help. Home care providers can help understand what’s going on and figure out what to try.
Physical Causes
There are lots of physical causes of seniors staying in bed longer than usual. They may be ill, either with chronic health conditions or an acute illness like a cold or the flu.
If seniors are losing too much muscle tone, they can be too weak to get out of bed. Chronic pain and other issues, like lack of sleep, can also play a role.
Mental and Emotional Causes
In addition to physical causes, there can be emotional and mental causes, too. Seniors may isolate and withdraw from life, leading to depression. Anxiety and fears, especially about falling, can lead to seniors staying in bed for longer periods of time.
If seniors aren’t eating well or enough, they may feel weak and experience low energy. All of these issues can cause seniors to have trouble getting up.
Avoid Guesswork
It’s easy to make assumptions and guess why seniors might be choosing to stay in bed all day. It’s also easy to decide that they’re staying in bed on purpose because they want to. Instead of guessing, it’s important to talk to seniors about what is going on.
Home care providers can also help families understand what might be happening when it’s difficult for them to express it themselves.
Put a Plan Together
Having a plan gives everyone involved a set of actions for moving forward. Once families understand more about what seniors are going through, family caregivers and home care providers can work together and address the challenges.
The exact steps involved may change depending on what exactly is causing seniors to stay in bed all day.
Offer Support in Various Ways
The steps families take might vary quite a bit. For instance, if seniors are dealing with physical challenges or health issues, a stop at their doctor’s office is an important first step.
Afterward, there might be other types of support necessary, like help preparing healthy meals, physical therapy, or medication to alleviate health issues.
Focus on Understanding What’s Happening
This type of issue can be frustrating, especially if there’s no one easy-to-identify cause for seniors to want to stay in bed all day. What this means is that families may have to be more patient than they expect and focus on offering understanding and support along the way to an answer.
Trying solutions and keeping the overall attitude positive can make a big difference.
Staying in bed all day once or twice might not be a big issue. But if it’s suddenly becoming a habit, seniors might have more going on. Home care providers can help families figure out what’s going on and find a way to make the situation better.
If you or an aging loved one needs Home Care in Folsom, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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