Generic filters
Exact matches only

How To Help Your Loved One With Osteoporosis

0
1 year ago

What is Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones, making them brittle and weak. Individuals with osteoporosis are prone to fractures. Because there is a severe loss of bone mass, our aging loved ones with osteoporosis will suffer from pain and disability. Their bones can become weak, prone to fractures resulting from the smallest of injuries. With osteoporosis, even simple activities can be dangerous for the affected individuals. Some examples of this are: coughing, bending, twisting, falling, and turning.

The statistics ring a warning bell.

It affects more women than men. Women aged 50 years and above falling are very susceptible to this disease. We are digging more into the statistics. More than 300,000 hip fractures occur every year due to osteoporosis. The recovery rate and time are not accessible. With less than 15% being able to walk without any support after surgery. As the statistics ring a warning bell. We must safeguard our senior loved ones from this deadly disease.

Understanding the disease

Calcium deficiency and poor vitamin D intake pave the way for weaker bones and poor bone density. Osteoporosis is a disease that affects almost all the bones of the body. However, the bones that osteoporosis will affect the most will include. The wrist, hip, and vertebrae are also known as the spine. The effect on the spine our loved ones will experience can be the worst time of their lives. The results on women will be difficult. Doing almost any job will affect their vertebrae.

The many signs of osteoporosis include:

Inability to lift objects
Loss in height
Posture becomes hunched like
Pain in the back
A curve develops in the back
The abdomen protrudes

Factors that increase the chances of developing osteoporosis

Osteoporosis does not develop overnight. It is a gradual process and begins pretty early in life.

Age. People 50 years and above are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis.
Gender. Women are more prone to develop osteoporosis than men.
Premature Menopause. Women who go through menopause early have decreased estrogen production. Which is a potent risk factor for osteoporosis.
A diet is deficient in calcium. When your body does not get enough calcium from foods, it gradually takes calcium from the bones. As a result, the bones are free of calcium, resulting in the reduction of bone mass.
The family history of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis runs in the family. There is a chance other members will develop the condition as well.
Sedentary lifestyle. Not doing enough exercise decreases bone strength, paving the way for osteoporosis.
Smoking
Alcohol abuse
Certain medications, when used for prolonged durations
Cancer treatments

All you need to know about lowering your odds

It is a chronic disease. And if timely prevention is not taken. The chances of getting it increases. At the same time, there are some factors that we cannot control or prevent. There are still many that can be successfully taken care of if we start early in life.

Steps to lower the osteoporosis odds include:

 

Intake of calcium-rich foods: Calcium builds strong bones. The best way to get calcium is to eat a diet rich in calcium. The foods that are excellent sources of calcium include Milk and dairy products *Fatty fish such as salmon and sardines *Dark green leafy vegetables, spinach, and collard greens.

Another way of improving the body’s calcium supply is to take supplements. However, the intake of calcium from foods is much better as compared to supplements. Because calcium supplements fail to improve bone health beyond a certain level. Therefore, the best way is to combine a calcium-rich diet and supplements.

More tips to keep strong bones

Get enough Vitamin D: Calcium alone will not be enough to improve the bones of individuals. Along with calcium, vitamin D is essential to building strong and healthy bones. Therefore, getting vitamin D each day for maximum absorption of calcium to the bones. Also, at least twice a week, 10–20 minutes of sunlight is enough to improve vitamin D levels. Taking vitamin D supplements will improve vitamin D status when this is not possible.
Exercise to keep your bones healthy: Inactive lifestyle kills. It is one of the significant factors in developing osteoporosis. We must leave the couch and get moving to slow down bone loss and improve bone strength. Exercising is a great way to keep bones healthy and strong. Practice endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility to enhance muscle and bone strength. This also helps prevent falls, the main reason for hip fractures.
Boost your bone density: By practicing weight-bearing exercises. Consulting a doctor is a must who would provide proper guidance for lifting weights. You can join a gym for appropriate instruction or consider doing simple weight lifting at home. Carrying out the following tasks at home can also help improve bone density.
Lifting young children
Lifting bags of groceries

Additional tips

Refrain from smoking and alcohol: Both alcohol and smoking are bad for osteoporosis. Smoking will double your chance of fractures. And alcohol consumption depletes your bone mass.
Growth hormones: Ask your doctor about growth hormones. To reduce the risk of fractures. Clinical trials have shown that when women who have osteoporosis take growth hormones. They have demonstrated a reduced risk of fractures.

Caregiving Consulting

Caregiving can be challenging, frustrating, and highly stressful!

Most caregivers can’t afford the luxury of stepping away from their daily responsibilities. Taking time out to regroup does not exist in their world.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Find peace in caregiving by tapping into resilience, joy, and radical forgiveness.
Would you love to give care with expertise and confidence?
Are you managing your loved one’s daily activities in an organized and structured way?
You are following a proven caregiving system that provides for your loved one’s needs while giving you peace of mind.

I will tailor the sessions to your specific needs to:

Explore strategies
Determine your immediate needs by providing focus and clarity.
Develop a wellness plan to boost your caregiving journey.
Ensure that systems are incorporated into your caregiving journey through regular check-ins.

The Ultimate Caregiving Expert Consulting offers tools, services, and resources to give you a fresh, objective perspective on caregiving. This will help enhance your caregiving journey if you feel confined, overwhelmed, or hopeless in the role of caregiver.

 

Additional Education

Education in caregiving refers to acquiring the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to provide care for individuals who require assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and grooming. This education can be obtained through formal programs or on-the-job training and experience. Education in caregiving aims to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high-quality, compassionate care for those in need.

Caregiving can be challenging, frustrating, and highly stressful!

But . . . it doesn’t have to be that way.

Imagine . . .

Giving care with expertise and confidence
Managing your loved one’s daily activities in an organized and structured way
You follow a proven caregiving system that provides for your loved one’s needs while giving you peace of mind.

If the above sounds like what you need and have been searching for desperately . . . Then you need to enroll in The Ultimate Secrets to Caregiving with LESS Stress and MORE peace course!

Conclusion

In conclusion, supporting a loved one with osteoporosis requires understanding, empathy, and proactive measures. We can provide informed assistance and emotional support by educating ourselves about the condition and its challenges. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle focusing on proper nutrition, regular exercise, and fall prevention can significantly improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of fractures. Open communication and patience are essential in addressing their concerns and fears. Additionally, attending medical appointments and helping with medication management can be instrumental in managing the condition effectively. Remember, with the right approach and care. We can positively impact our loved one’s journey with osteoporosis, enabling them to live life to the fullest despite the challenges they face.

 

The post How To Help Your Loved One With Osteoporosis appeared first on The Caregiving Strategist.

Read More 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

1.
avatar
Jordan M
9210 points
Dark mode