When people grow older, physical changes and lifestyle adjustments can sometimes lead to a decrease in energy. As such, those who provide elder care for an aging parent or relative may find that their parent struggles to muster up the energy for even basic everyday tasks. How to Boost Elderly Energy
At Visiting Angels, our elder care professionals encourage healthy, active lifestyles among our clients as much as possible, and we know how important energy is to making that happen. To help you keep your loved one healthy and energized, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can make energy-boosting activities part of your loved one’s elder care regimen.
Keep Moving & Stay Active
Exercise is one of the easiest ways to boost and maintain energy levels. Yes – easy. While the word “exercise” might conjure up images of treadmills, bikes, and dumbbells, healthy exercise is much more fun and simple than a trip to the gym.
Most doctors recommend focussing on low-impact, mild exercise when building an elder care activity plan. Some examples might include:
- Walking
- Hiking
- Tai Chi
- Aquafit
- Dancing
- Gardening
The key is to build a program with activities that are enjoyable for your loved one. This can occasionally be difficult, especially if your loved one is inactive to the point that even low-impact activities are challenging. If this is the case, introduce these activities gradually. Do activities for short periods at first, and allow for breaks if your loved one becomes strained.
And remember to always consult with your doctor before making regular exercise a part of your loved one’s elder care regimen.
Eat Energy-Boosting Foods
Your loved one’s diet plays a major role in their level of energy on a day-to-day basis. There are a few ways that you can modify your loved one’s elder care plan to improve nutrition.
Sometimes, boosting energy can be as simple as eating at the right times. You’ve undoubtedly heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. That’s doubly true for energy-depleted seniors. Ensuring your loved one eats a full, healthy meal at the start of the day will ensure they are properly “powered up,” with the energy to fuel them through the morning and afternoon.
Another way to boost energy is to increase your loved one’s consumption of lean proteins and reduce intake of carbohydrates. Carbs, especially those found in sugar, white flour, and other similar foods, cause sharp energy peaks and valleys. They also encourage the production of serotonin, the chemical that makes people sleepy. Instead, a high-protein diet will keep your loved one energized without causing them to “crash” midway through the day.
Two other ways that you can boost energy are hydration and vitamin intake. Ensuring your loved one drinks roughly two liters of fluids daily will help your loved one stay energized. A diet high in vitamins A, B, C, E, niacin and folate – or supplements for these vitamins – will also help increase energy levels.
Healthy Sleep
Insomnia problems are common among the elderly and can lead to depleted energy levels. If your loved one is suffering from sleep issues, you may wish to work with them on healthy sleep habits as part of your elder care plan. Some of the ways insomnia can be avoided include limiting the use of TV or computers in the hours before bedtime, ensuring a dark, comfortable sleeping space, and performing breathing exercises to help induce sleep.
Stress Management
Stress has been referred to as the silent killer for the impact It can have on a person’s health, mood, and energy. To reduce stress in your loved one, make activities like mindful meditation a part of your loved one’s elder care plan and encourage regular social interaction, which helps reduce stress and other emotional challenges.
If you’re looking for help with your loved one’s elder care, including ways to increase energy and activity, contact the elder care professionals at your local Visiting Angels. Our elder care providers have been helping American families for over 18 years and can help you promote a healthy lifestyle for your loved one.
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