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If you’re an adult child of aging parents, chances are you’ve noticed them becoming frailer and frail-minded with time. This change can be both frustrating and scary at the same time.
The likely reason that your elderly father or other is so weak is because they’ve been losing strength for a while and simply can’t do what used to come naturally. They may have also been living with one or more health conditions that have weakened them over time.
This article will explain a few possible reasons why your elderly parent might be weak. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help your parent maintain as much independence as possible until their final days.
Reasons Why Your Elderly Father or Mother Is So Weak
While dementia and Alzheimer’s are the most common causes, many other factors can contribute to your elderly father or mother becoming frailer. Unfortunately, many of these issues are often compounded by the loss of independence that accompanies aging. There are several reasons why your elderly parent may be weak.
Some of these are physical, while others are mental.
Physical Reasons
Your parent may be weak due to physical reasons, including:
- Inactivity: Lack of exercise can cause muscles to become weak and bones to become brittle. This can lead to a fall or other injury that causes pain and makes it difficult for them to move around.
- Poor nutrition: Not eating enough or eating foods that lack vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients (such as calcium) can make it difficult for muscles to function properly and bones to stay strong and healthy.
- Medications: Some medications can cause side effects such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, or confusion. This can make it difficult for your loved one to get around and function normally on their own. Antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, blood pressure medications, sedatives, and tranquilizers are among the medications that can cause drowsiness.
Other medications have no side effects but may interact with other drugs that your elderly father or mother takes, causing problems with balance and walking ability.
Emotional Reasons
The importance of knowing these emotional reasons for your parent being weak can help you in addressing the issue.
- Fear – Fear of falling keeps many older people from going outside or walking downstairs, which is important for keeping their muscles strong and healthy. Fear can also force your elderly parent to avoid social activities that would otherwise help keep them active. These activities include going out with friends or doing church activities where they can get some exercise. Over time, this causes them to lose muscle mass and weaken.
- Loneliness – Loneliness can cause depression and other emotional problems that make it difficult for older people to get out and stay active. This is especially true for older people who have lost a loved one or have other problems that cause them to feel isolated from their families and friends.
- Depression – When your elderly parent is depressed, they may find it hard to get out of bed in the morning and may even experience fatigue throughout the day. This makes it difficult to participate in daily activities like walking or shopping with friends.
What You Can Do To Help Your Weakening Elderly Parent
You can do many things to help your elderly father or mother stay physically and mentally healthy. Here are some suggestions:
Help Them Practice Their Hobbies and Activities
Although your parent may become increasingly frail, they may still be able to continue some of their favorite activities.
- If you have a garden or a pet, encourage your parent to help you take care of them. It’s even better if they have their own gardens or pets. Just be sure you keep a close eye on their ability to take care of them.
- If your parent has a talent that they can continue to practice, like painting, woodworking, or music, try to encourage them to do so.
- You can also try to help your parent maintain a certain level of independence even when they can no longer drive. Encourage them to register for door-to-door delivery services, subscribe to home-delivery services, and find other ways to allow them to maintain independence as much as possible.
Encourage Physical Activity and Exercise
It may seem like a far-fetched idea; however, you can encourage your parent to remain physically active even in their later years. Physical activity has been shown to improve brain health and significantly reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The following activities can be a great way for your elderly parent to stay active and social:
- Actual exercises, such as swimming, walking, biking, or yoga
- Gardening, lawn maintenance, or general chores around the house
- Incorporating physical activity into their schedule, such as walking around the neighborhood or doing simple exercises like lifting hand weights while watching television
- Low-impact activities such as tai chi or yoga
- Low-impact hobbies like knitting or painting
If your parent has mobility issues, consider getting them the Drive Medical Folding Walker (available on Amazon.com) The Drive Medical 10210-1 Folding Walker has a push-button mechanism for finger, palm, or side-of-hand operation to provide elders with simple and convenient one-hand folding. This strong and sturdy medical walker is ideal for enhancing stability for elders to get outside for some fresh air.
Make Sure Their Diet Is Nutritious
Eating a healthy diet can help your elderly father or mother to stay fit and avoid health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. A healthy diet can also help your elderly parent to recover from illnesses and stay as strong as possible during times of sickness.
A diet low in vegetables and high in refined carbohydrates, like white bread and sugar, can contribute to cognitive decline and make your elderly parent more vulnerable to falls. You can encourage your parent to eat a more nutritious diet, which may include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat proteins, such as fish or chicken.
Keep a Record of Important Information for Later Use
Another important thing to remember when caring for your elderly father or mother is to record important information. This can help in the event of a serious emergency or if your parent becomes otherwise unable to care for themselves. If you are keeping a record of important information, remember the following:
- Ensure that it is easy to understand and accessible for your parent.
- Ensure that it contains any forms of identification your parent may need in an emergency.
Keeping a record of important information can help you ensure that your parent receives proper medical attention if they cannot speak for themselves. It can help to make sure that your parent is properly cared for if they become unable to live independently.
Your elderly parents should get enough sleep to stay healthy, but too much sleep can be detrimental. Click on the link to read my guide on the sleep requirements of the elderly. How Much Sleep is Too Much for the Elderly?
Conclusion
One thing is for certain: we all have elderly people in our lives, whether families or friends. We must ensure that they’re taken care of and monitored closely (especially if and when they live alone). If you notice your parent is becoming weaker – either physically or mentally – take immediate steps to help combat the issue.
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