If your senior parents are struggling at home and you’re not around often enough to help, it may make it harder for aging parents to accept the natural process of aging. One thing you can do is hire companion care at home services to help your senior with everyday activities. Having someone like companion care at home services can also help a senior become aware of the physical and mental changes to expect. Awareness is one of the best ways to start coping.
As a senior ages there are so many changes that occur that can be mentally and physically hard to deal with. The vitality and youth a senior once had are now gone, and that change can be drastic for many people. So how can you deal with this? How can you help your senior parents accept the natural process? There is no correct answer, and the truth is you will have to be supportive as they find a way to cope, but there are ways you may make it easier.
What Physical Changes Happen
There are a few common physical changes to be aware of when your parents start progressing to the end stages of life.
Bone Health
As we age, our bones shrink in size and become weaker. This shift is most noticeable in postmenopausal women and may lead to osteoporosis. When we lose bone mass, we are more prone to risky falls, resulting in injuries. As we become older, our ability to heal from such injuries deteriorates.
Heart Health Changes
Your heart beats slower, becomes somewhat larger, and its walls may thicken. A senior needs to get regular checkups with their doctor.
Your Nervous System
You may notice changes in your reflexes and sensitivities as you become older. You may also have some memory loss. Plaques and tangles may develop in certain circumstances, causing brain and nerve cell damage. You are predisposed to dementia because of these anomalies.
Your Senses Change
Changes in taste and fragrance will typically result in a drop in appetite, which is terrible for your health. A weakened sense of smell and taste may be harmful. Food poisoning may occur if you ingest spoiled food or drinks.
There are so many more things that change as your body ages. Your teeth, metabolism, sex life, skin, and organs also change. It’s essential to know things because it helps you understand what to expect later on.
How To Cope With Changes
Start small and take baby steps. Aging is a slow process and coping with these things can also be a long process. Here are some easy things a senior can do to start accepting the natural process they’re going through.
Focus on Diet
It is underdiagnosed because its symptoms, which include lightheadedness, muscular weakness, and weight loss, are readily misinterpreted as indications of another condition. As a result, a well-balanced diet is critical to living a happy and healthy life.
Get Enough Physical Activity
A senior may not be able to run a marathon but a daily walk every day can help them reflect on their life and cope with this process better.
Focus on Brain Health
Whether a senior wants to take supplements or work on puzzles finding an activity to work on brain help will help a senior continue to feel good about their life.
