If your loved ones are dealing with joint pain or weakness, they’re most likely suffering from arthritis. Arthritis is a condition that affects one or many joints due to inflammation, causing them to swell and feel stiff. While this disease can affect adults of any age, it typically worsens with age, so it’s important to seek treatment as quickly as possible in order to slow down or even improve the condition, as well as relieve any pain and increase the range of motion. Since people with arthritis aren’t able to function independently, you should attempt to offer support whenever possible. Therefore, here’s how you can make the lives of those living with arthritis a little easier.
Help with Housekeeping
While housekeeping chores can seem mundane and simple to complete, that’s not the case for elderly folks with arthritis. As their condition prevents them from moving around much and they are more prone to injuries and falls, performing housekeeping and maintenance activities can be challenging for them. As such, do take over the work from your loved ones, which allows them more time to rest as well. From scrubbing the floors to cleaning any high surface areas and windows, these are the tasks they should avoid doing. They should also stay away from repairing any objects since they can get injured from the sharp tools.
Transporting and Accompanying Them to Places
There are times when your loved ones have to leave the house for appointments and errands. If it’s possible, you should drive them to and from their desired locations. It’s even better if you can be by their sides throughout the day. The reasons are that it’s nearly impossible for people with arthritis to drive and taking public transportation can be unsafe. Since it’s important for older adults not to be constantly cooped up indoors, you can offer support by providing companionship when they’re leaving the house. This means that your loved ones can continue doing their own groceries, attending medical appointments, running errands, and many more. In addition, this also allows them to lead an active social life as they’re able to meet up with friends and attend events.
Cooking and Preparing Meals
Since cooking can be dangerous and even cause pain to older adults with arthritis, you can offer help by cooking and preparing their meals. It’s crucial for the elderly to receive sufficient nutrition and follow a well-balanced diet in order to stay healthy, so if they’re unable to cook, this can be detrimental to their overall health. Some of them may even turn to packaged meals for convenience, though such meals are extremely unhealthy. As such, by using fresh ingredients and whipping up nutritious meals, loved ones with arthritis no longer have to sacrifice their nourishment for their safety.
Help with Medication
As arthritis causes pain or swelling in the joints, older adults may find it difficult to open up medication bottles and apply medications in areas around the body that are hard to reach. As such, you can help to administer medication to your loved ones, alongside reminding them to follow their medication routine.
