September is Pain Awareness Month

Many people are living with chronic pain, and doctors have no idea how to treat a lot of people. Right now is the time to recognize if the senior you love has been having chronic pain. By bringing awareness to this condition, doctors may be able to learn more. Chronic pain is something that is different for everyone, which is also why it can be so hard to treat.

It involves pain that lasts weeks and sometimes years, and there are various ways to try to treat the pain. If the senior you love has severe pain that’s lasted years and gets in the way of everyday life, it may be time for 24-hour home care. These are caregivers who work around the clock to help manage a senior.

A 24-hour home care specialist may help cook, clean, bathe, and dress a senior while also doing other basic household chores. The caregivers can help drive seniors to classes, appointments, and therapy sessions if necessary. September is pain awareness month, and it may be one of the best times to consider hiring 24-hour home care for your beloved senior.

How Chronic Pain Affects Seniors

Chronic pain is something that many health care professionals will encounter. They see it mainly in people above the age of 65. This condition can decrease someone’s mobility due to the pain, increase falls, and someone may even lose the amount of sleep they used to get. It is a condition that hurts but can try to be managed.

Chronic pain can be incredibly hard to treat because many people turn to opioids. These drugs may work for a minute, but they are highly addictive, and the human body can develop a tolerance quickly. Pain is complex, and there are different levels of pain; not all medication is good for every person.

How to Treat Chronic Pain

Every senior will be different, have various pain levels, and feel comfortable trying different methods of pain management. The important thing will be to find something they are comfortable doing. A 24-hour home care assistant can help your senior try the following ways to help beat chronic pain.

Exercise

Believe it or not, exercise can help fight inflammation. Low-impact workouts might help stretch out the body, tone it, and fight pain. Remaining strong and mobile as a senior is also mentally healthy.

Stress Management

Stress may make pain worse for a senior. Find ways to help the senior de-stress in their life. This may be through mediation, yoga, or even things like tai chi. Finding a way to relax and breathe through the uncomfortableness may help with pain management.

Therapy

Not all pain is easy to get rid of and sometimes it involves a few therapy sessions too. This may be sitting down to talk to someone or even a physical therapist. Explore different options and be sure to talk to the senior doctor about it too.

Medications

Not all medication is good for a senior to take but in severe situations a doctor may prescribe something to help manage the pain. A 24-hour home care provider can help your senior parent remember when to take their medications and help follow any instructions from a doctor.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4707527/#:~:text=Chronic%20pain%20is%20one%20of,(%E2%89%A565%20years)%20patients.&text=Pain%20is%20associated%20with%20substantial,%2C%20sleep%20impairment%2C%20and%20isolation.

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/understanding-pain-management-chronic-pain

If you are considering 24-hour home care in Henderson, NV for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.