Tips to Manage Arthritis & Help Seniors Live the Life They Want

Navigating the challenges of arthritis as a senior may seem daunting. Still, with adept strategies and the proper support in place, it's possible to not only manage the condition but also preserve and enhance one's quality of life. In this article, we delve into tips to empower seniors in their journey with arthritis, from management techniques to advice on sidestepping flare-ups.

Tips to Manage Arthritis:

Stay Active: Regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining joint health and mobility. Choose low-impact activities that are easy on the joints, like walking, swimming, and bicycling.

Manage Weight: Eating a balanced diet and staying within a healthy range helps reduce joint strain and improve physical function.

Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is essential for overall health and well-being; getting enough rest can help reduce arthritis symptoms. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

Keep a Positive Attitude: Living with arthritis is a journey, and patience is essential. With the right strategies and support, symptoms become manageable, so favorite activities can still be enjoyed.

Stay Connected: Because seniors with arthritis may become less active, it can lead to isolation. It's important to stay connected to friends and family for emotional support.

5 Ways to Avoid Arthritis Flare-Ups

Arthritis tends to have moments when symptoms get worse, followed by periods when they get better. It's essential to be aware of what might cause flare-ups and take steps to avoid triggering them in the future.

1. Take Medications as Prescribed: It's important to take medications as a doctor prescribes to manage symptoms effectively.
2. Manage Stress: Stress can make arthritis symptoms worse. Find ways to manage stress, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle yoga.
3. Avoid Certain Foods: Limit foods that trigger joint pain and inflammation, such as nightshade vegetables, fried or grilled food, sugars, refined carbohydrates, full-fat dairy products, processed meats, salt, shellfish, and red meat.
4. Overdoing Exercise: Staying active is good, but overdoing it can trigger flare-ups, especially exercises that involve the joints. Be sure to warm up and take it slow.
5. Watch the Weather: Cold, rainy, or humid weather can aggravate joint pain. Use heat and pain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as needed to help alleviate the pain.

Comfort Keepers^® Can Help

These tips can help seniors with arthritis stay healthy and avoid flare-ups. Our Comfort Keepers can help by reminding seniors to take their medications, maintain a healthy diet, and encourage activities that enhance mobility.

At Comfort Keepers, we believe every person has an inner spark. It's something age and illness cannot take away. We go beyond daily care needs to nurture those unique qualities and bring about a sense of hope, connectedness, purpose, and, most importantly, joy.