How Can Seniors Experience a Better Quality of Life with Arthritis?
April 3, 2025
Living with arthritis can be complicated and feel as if it’s just impossible at times. Seniors often experience a lot of pain and struggle to complete daily tasks that may have never been a problem before. This can be frustrating for seniors and for the family members who love them. Working with senior home care providers can help aging adults develop a plan for improving their quality of life, even as they live with arthritis.
Avoid Stiffness with Gentle Movement
A common issue for seniors with arthritis is that they start to avoid movement, especially when they’re in pain with an arthritis flare. The irony is that gentle movement and avoiding staying in one position for a long time can help joints stay loose and limber. Movement helps to lubricate the joints and warm up the muscles around the joints, relieving pain. Staying still or holding joints stiffly puts a lot of stress on those joints and can exacerbate discomfort.
Get Help in Place
Having help when seniors live with arthritis is such an important resource for the seniors and the family caregivers who worry about them. Home care providers can handle daily tasks for seniors when it’s too difficult. They can also remind seniors of things they can try when they’re experiencing pain or discomfort. Senior home care isn’t there to take over, though; they’re there to offer assistance as needed.
Build Strength
Seniors often find that it’s tougher to maintain strength as they age. With arthritis, it can be that much more difficult to maintain strength. Finding gentle exercise routines that build strength can be a powerful way to keep joints and the muscles that support them strong. Seniors should always talk with their doctors first to make sure that they are okay to start any new exercise routines.
Reduce Stress
Finding positive ways to cope with stress is so important with any chronic health condition, including arthritis. When they’re better able to handle their feelings, seniors may find that it’s easier to cope with life in general, including when they’re having a painful arthritis flare. Reducing stress doesn’t completely get rid of pain, of course, but it does offer mental health benefits that seniors can build on.
Use Assistive Tools
There are so many different types of assistive tools and devices that help seniors to live better with arthritis. Elder care providers can help aging adults find the right tools for their needs and learn how to use them properly. Tools that make cooking and preparing food easier keep seniors on track with healthy eating, for example. Other tools can help with grooming tasks and bathing, which are tasks seniors may want to handle independently for as long as they can.
As seniors deal with the challenges that arthritis brings, senior home care providers can offer them a lot of support and assistance. Finding the right combination of solutions reduces stress and discomfort, helping seniors with arthritis to have the best possible quality of life as they continue to age in place.
If you or your loved one is looking for Senior Home Care in Milpitas, CA, please call Familiar Surroundings Home Care.
Santa Clara County: (408) 979-9990
San Mateo County: (650) 353-9777
Santa Cruz County: (831) 480-3990