As people get older, they face several problems, and one of these is dealing with pain. Knowing this, it’s important to keep an eye out for changes in seniors’ health to evaluate when the pain might be something more than just the normal effects of aging. With home care assistance and loved one’s support, the pains that seniors face can be assessed properly. Consider the following signs when caring for seniors.
- Pain That Won’t Go Away: One of the main signs that a senior’s pain might be something more is that it won’t go away even after rest or over-the-counter medicines. While seniors might insist it’s simply normal, it’s important to contact the primary physician for a full evaluation.
- Change in Activities or Habits: As people get older, they often get used to a certain amount of pain. However, if loved ones notice a change in seniors’ behaviors, like staying away from social events, not wanting to move around, or being in a worse-than-normal mood, it could mean that their pain needs to be assessed.
- Localized vs. Generalized Pain: Determining what kind of pain it is can help the support team make better care decisions. Aches and pains that come with getting older are normal, but if the pain is localized and only in one place, it may need to be looked at more closely. For example, joint pain that doesn’t go away could be a sign of arthritis, while sharp stomach pain could be a sign of digestive problems. With home care assistance by their side, seniors are consistently monitored, which helps in evaluating if the pain is localized or not.
- Pain That Gets in the Way of Daily Life: Aging does not mean that seniors can’t be active. That being said, if pain makes it hard for them to do normal things like walk, get dressed, or even eat, it means the pain isn’t normal and needs further attention. Again, monitoring and home care assistance can catch this early and ensure seniors are given an effective care plan.
- Changes in Sleep Patterns: People who have chronic pain often have trouble sleeping. If an older person is having trouble going to sleep or staying asleep because of pain, it could be a sign of a more serious problem.
- Unwanted Weight Loss: It might be a sign that pain is something more when seniors lose weight without making any changes to their food or exercise routine. For this reason, keeping an eye on seniors’ weight is an important part of managing their health as a whole.
With home care assistance as part of the support team, seniors’ aches and pains can be monitored more effectively. As mentioned, some pain is normal with age, but pain that won’t go away isn’t explained, or seems to worsen shouldn’t be ignored. Open communication, regular checkups, and getting medical help when needed are all important steps to take to ensure pain is assessed properly and seniors feel validated.