Osteoporosis is a health condition that can affect anyone, but small-framed white and Asian women are usually the most likely people to be affected by it. Osteoporosis causes bones to become brittle and weak. When a person has this condition, their likelihood of breaking a bone greatly increases. Sometimes a simple hard bump to the hip or a slip on the stairs can result in a painful break that might take months to heal. A home care provider can help your loved one make lifestyle changes to improve their health.
Who Gets Osteoporosis?
In many ways, how likely your elderly loved one is to develop osteoporosis is determined long before she reaches old age. The more bone mass that she was able to build up as a youth will reduce her risk of developing the disease, and several risks that she can’t change, such as her sex, her race, and any hereditary factors, will all increase the possibility of your loved one developing osteoporosis if she hasn’t already. Luckily, there are some steps you can help your loved one take to reduce her risk of bones becoming so weak that she is at a greater risk of breaking them.
Four Steps to Reducing the Risk of Osteoporosis
Stop drinking excessive alcohol and smoking. Tobacco use and drinking two or more alcoholic drinks per day have both been shown to increase the risk of weak bones.
Increase the amount of calcium consumed. Calcium is a key nutrient for strong bones, and women need more calcium than men, and older women need even more. There are some great natural sources of calcium, such as dairy products, canned tuna and salmon, and soy products like tofu. You can also speak to your loved one’s doctor about having her take a supplement if needed.
Increase Vitamin D intake. Vitamin D is needed for your loved one’s body to absorb calcium. The sun is a great source of vitamin D, but it can be tough to get enough (and get it safely), especially during the winter months. Many foods, such as milk and cereal, add vitamin D to them as well.
Get on a regular exercise routine. If your loved one’s doctor approves, help her start up a regular exercise routine to help her build strong bones and reduce her bone loss as she continues to age. Weight-bearing exercises like brisk walking, playing tennis or pickleball, and even climbing stairs can help build up her bones in her legs, hips, and spine, the ones that are most commonly negatively affected by osteoporosis.
Making Lifestyle Changes
It can be hard for many elderly people to change a habit or a lifestyle preference after decades. Your loved one may feel overwhelmed by a long list of changes she should make, so it can be easier to suggest one or two changes first and then slowly help her work her way toward a healthier lifestyle.
A home care team can help support your loved one if she wants to make some lifestyle changes to increase her bone health, but isn’t confident that she can do it on her own. A home care provider can work with her to provide meals that are rich in calcium and vitamin D so she has the nutrients she needs. Her home care provider can also support her desire to be more active by providing needed transportation if needed. Before long, your loved one will be feeling a lot of health benefits from making some bone-health changes.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Tamarac, FL, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call 954-962-0926.
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Florida, including Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward County.
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