High blood pressure has dangerous implications for your loved ones, especially as they age. It opens the people around you to several risks: heart disease, kidney failure, heart attacks, and the list continues. If your elderly loved one’s recent doctor appointment highlights concerning blood pressure levels, it’s time to step up to help them manage it, mitigating the multiple dangers it could lead to.
Get Them Moving
A sedentary lifestyle is a major contributor to high blood pressure, making it ideal for your loved one to get in at least some exercise every day if possible. Exercises that keep the heart pumping at a higher rate, known as cardio exercise or aerobic exercise, are super beneficial to your loved one’s health. Examples of cardio exercises that your loved one can engage in often are walking, running, swimming, and cycling.
The key to encouraging your loved one to start working out would be to start small. Rather than forcing them to do a full routine that’ll just tire them out and make them resent exercise, you can introduce a fitness routine into their life by inviting them to a walk or jog along the block instead. Take your encouragement a step further by working out together. By being a present, positive influence, you can do wonders for your loved one’s fitness journey!
Feed Them a Heart-Healthy Diet
Your loved one’s diet can also be a factor as to why their blood pressure is too high to be healthy. Are they eating sodium-rich foods such as deli meats, fast food items, and canned foods before washing them down with a can of soda? High blood pressure levels are a sign that your loved one needs to dial these eating habits back!
Instead, put more whole grains, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables onto your loved one’s plate. These foods are a natural way to lower your loved one’s blood pressure back to regular levels. Help your loved ones avoid an unhealthy diet by planning their meals and accompanying them on their grocery runs. If you’re gifted in cooking, you could also help them out with meal preparation.
Help Them Kick Unhealthy Habits
This may sound like a no-brainer, but substances such as alcohol and tobacco should be avoided, especially for those with hypertension. While such habits are typically associated with harming the liver and the lungs, they’re just as bad for your loved one’s heart.
By quitting drinking and smoking, your loved ones can lower their blood pressure and improve their overall cardiac health. While being a positive influence by accompanying them on their journey to a healthier lifestyle is always a plus, understand that this is a difficult process. If needed, you could seek professional help to further support your loved ones as they make the effort to break such habits.
Leave Your Loved One’s Wellness to Us
Wish you could do more for your loved one’s wellness journey, but simply can’t afford the time? Our senior living community Morada Cedar Hill offers a senior-specific health and wellness program that’ll put your loved one in the good hands of a trained team that’ll provide care round the clock!
