Aging may lead to health issues for seniors, including narrower and harder arteries. As a result, they’re more susceptible to problems like strokes. However, with healthy lifestyle choices and regular doctor visits, your elderly loved one may maintain good health. It’s best to know as much about strokes as possible, including the leading causes and the steps to take to reduce your loved one’s risk.
1. High Blood Pressure
Often referred to as hypertension, this is one of the main causes of strokes in older adults. The type of activities elderly people engage in each day may impact their blood pressure levels, especially incidents that lead to stress, which causes the heart to pump faster. When the heart works overtime, the odds of having a stroke increase. The force inside the blood vessels damages artery walls, weakening them.
When high blood pressure is an issue, the likelihood of an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke increases. Seniors may manage their blood pressure by quitting unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. They should also cut back on their caffeine intake. Activities that lead to peace and joy instead of stress may also stave off hypertension.
Many seniors who find it challenging to manage their blood pressure on their own find that a professional caregiver may provide the reinforcement and direction they need to make lasting lifestyle changes. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same home care services. Families may rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we provide mentally stimulating activities that may stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
2. High Cholesterol
Developing fatty deposits in the blood vessels may make it difficult for adequate amounts of blood to flow through the arteries, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. When these deposits, which are often caused by high cholesterol, break suddenly, a blood clot will form, and a stroke is likely. Therefore, your loved one needs to find ways to maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
The foods your loved one eats may naturally reduce or increase his or her cholesterol levels. Consuming more fruits and vegetables, eating less sugar, and managing the amount of fat eaten each day could stave off high cholesterol, prevent plaque buildup in the arteries, and stop blood flow blockages to the brain that cause a stroke.
If your busy schedule isn’t able to accommodate extra attention to your aging loved one’s diet, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Caring for a senior loved one may be rewarding, but it may also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is senior home care. Florence families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation.
3. Obesity
This problem affects a large number of people, including seniors. Poor eating habits may cause seniors to gain excess weight, increasing the odds of heart disease, circulation issues, and diabetes. These are all risk factors for strokes and other severe health problems. Therefore, you need to find ways to incorporate healthy foods into your loved one’s daily meals.
Instead of consuming foods high in carbohydrates and fat, it would be best if your loved one chooses healthier options such as leafy green vegetables, lean turkey and chicken, and low-sugar fruits instead of processed items and unhealthy snacks, sodas, pork, and red meat. If you need more assistance when planning meals to ensure your parent receives the nutrients his or her body needs, speak with his or her family physician for recommendations and tips.
If you’re the family caregiver for a loved one and you find it challenging to prepare the healthiest foods for him or her, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Florence elder care professionals may be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors may enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers. If you need professional care for your loved one, Assisting Hands Home Care of Northern Kentucky is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (859) 328-2656.
