Helping Seniors Living with Chronic Pain
Senior Care in Northbrook IL: Dealing with Chronic Pain
Senior citizens are more likely to suffer pain than younger people because of medical conditions or changes due to aging. In fact, up to 50 percent of seniors who live at home and 75 to 85 percent of seniors in long-term care facilities experience chronic pain. Even with so many seniors suffering, chronic pain is largely under treated in older adults. If your parent is one of the many seniors who is living with chronic pain, be sure to talk to a doctor so that your parent can start a pain management plan that can offer them a better quality of life.
Why is Pain in Seniors Under-treated?
Seniors often do not report pain to their doctors, or if they do, they may underplay the pain. Many seniors believe that pain is just a part of getting older, so there is no point in reporting it. They may also be concerned that reporting the pain could lead to expensive tests and treatments. Seniors may also feel that talking about their pain will make them be seen as complainers or that they will be a burden to their loved ones.
What Causes Pain in Seniors?
Pain in seniors can be caused by several things. There are some changes that occur as a person ages that can lead to pain. Changes in sleep patterns, a natural stiffening of the muscles and joints, and changes in energy levels can all affect pain. There are also many conditions that can affect pain, such as:
- Arthritis.
- Nerve damage, foot ulcers, and skin problems caused by diabetes.
- Cancer.
- Shingles.
- Oral and dental health problems.
- Poor circulation.
- Inflammatory diseases.
- Muscle diseases.
What Treatments are Available?
The first step in getting treatment for pain is to talk to a doctor about what is going on. When your parent sees the doctor, they should report their pain symptoms. Include information about where the pain is located, how long the pain usually lasts, how bad the pain is, and if there is anything that makes it worse or soothes it.
Doctors often treat pain in seniors using medications. Because senior bodies sometimes process medications differently due to changes in the kidneys and liver, your parent should not take over the counter pain killers without first talking to a doctor. Seniors also have a higher risk of side effects from medications. If your parent has difficulty swallowing pills, be sure to let the doctor know as other forms of the medication may be available. It is also important to provide the doctor with a list of medications your parent is currently taking so that drug interactions can be avoided.
How Can a Senior Care Provider Help Ease the Pain?
In addition to medical treatments, there are things that can be done at home to help your parent experience less pain. A senior care provider can be your parent’s partner in combating chronic pain. One of the things that can help reduce pain is remaining physically active. If your parent is reluctant to exercise because they feel unsafe due to balance issues or health conditions, having a senior care provider present while they exercise can help ease some of those fears. Your parent’s senior care provider can also drive your parent to exercise classes. Experts recommend Tai Chi and yoga for keeping senior muscles fit and reducing the risk for falling. A healthy diet is also important for managing pain. Your parent’s senior care provider can help them shop for healthy ingredients and assist with meal preparation.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Northbrook, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.
Sources
https://medlineplus.gov/magazine/issues/fall11/articles/fall11pg15.html
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/treating-pain-elderly
https://www.healthinaging.org/aging-and-health-a-to-z/topic:pain-management/
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