How to Tell if Your Senior is Low in Magnesium
March 6, 2024
Even if your senior is aging in place alone they will probably still have help from family, friends, and companion care at home. Every single person should be looking out for the well-being of your senior mom and dad, and this may come in the form of noticing whether or not they are behaving weirdly or having symptoms. Companion care at home may spend the most amount of time with your elderly mom or dad and they may be the ones noticing certain things that happen more often than the rest of the family. If they are noticing specific things, companion care at home can take notes, which can then go to the doctor with a senior. Here are some signs that your senior mom or dad may be low in magnesium and a few ways companion care at home can help them battle this.
Muscle Tremors
Weak bones and muscles is a huge sign that your loved one is not getting enough magnesium in their diet. But one of the sure ways to tell this is happening is through twitching and tremors. A senior won’t truly know they are deficient unless they go talk to a doctor who is going to run tests. A doctor will want to know why they think they have magnesium deficiency so companion care at home will need to make notes about tremors, twitches, and any muscle weakness that occurs. This will help a doctor understand what to do. Sometimes a senior may just need to eat more nuts and leafy greens, other times they may need to take supplements each day to maintain the right amount of magnesium in their system.
May Impact Osteoporosis
As they age they may be at risk for developing Osteoporosis which means weak bones and this means they can get injured way easier. Most magnesium is found in bones so when your loved one is lacking magnesium it could lead to Osteoporosis which is not deadly but can make life a lot more challenging for someone who is trying to age in place. Companion care at home can help make a senior’s home safer if they do develop this condition, but it’s best to do everything you possibly can to avoid these conditions, although sometimes that is not possible.
Low Magnesium May Lead to Fatigue
Fatigue is a symptom of low magnesium unfortunately it is something that is such a broad term it can be a symptom of many different things. General fatigue and more specifically muscle fatigue are the symptoms of low magnesium. If your loved one is experiencing any kind of abnormal fatigue it is important for a doctor to know this information. A senior doctor will want to be aware of anything that is not normal and long-term fatigue is not something that should be considered normal for seniors.
Consider a Diet Change
Sometimes a senior is low in magnesium because they are not eating the right foods. Diet is a crucial thing to focus on as a senior. Companion care at home can ensure a senior is eating the right things to help boost their vitamin intake and a doctor may have a list of magnesium-rich foods that will help your loved one. Diet may work better than supplements for certain individuals.