10 Ways to Support Your Ageing Moms Health

1. Update her health insurance

Once your mother is retired, she’s no longer eligible for the insurance provided by her employer and she’ll need something else. Medical insurance for older people has several restrictions and can be a little more complicated than it is for a younger person. Adding an older person to your family insurance may not be a wise decision financially, so it’s best to get her her own insurance that offers her cashless treatments in the top hospitals in your area.

2. Schedule her health checkups

As your Mom gets older, she becomes more vulnerable to several chronic conditions. The WHO says that older people are more likely to have problems with vision and hearing, as well as joint pain, osteoarthritis, cardiac issues, along with mental health issues like depression and dementia.

All these problems can be managed significantly better when detected early, which is why regular health screenings are so important for our ageing moms health. This also helps keep you ahead of any existing medical conditions your mother may have. Here are some of the tests recommended for older women at regular intervals:

• Blood Pressure Test
• Blood Sugar Test
• Cholesterol Test
• Vision Test
• Hearing Test
• Dental Checkup
• Bone Density Test
• Mammogram
• Colonoscopy
• Cancer Screening

3. Install safety features at home

In a year,  over 80% of hip fracture deaths and emergency hospitalizations are caused by falls. Old people are particularly vulnerable to falls due to their loss of balance, weakened vision and overall frailty. That’s why installing safety features is a crucial part of supporting our ageing moms health.

Install grab bars and safety rails along staircases and in bathrooms. Set up a ramp if needed, and sufficient lighting around the house, including night-lights. Remove rugs or anything that can cause tripping, including unnecessary clutter or furniture. A fall detection device is a good idea in homes where seniors live alone.

4. Improve her sleep conditions

One of the first things affecting your ageing moms health is poor quality sleep. As people age, they spend less time in restorative, deep sleep, and they are prone to frequent wakenings. Changing hormones in menopausal women make things worse, and other conditions like sleep apnea or restless legs contribute to poor sleep.

You can help this situation by improving your mother’s sleep hygiene, which includes changing a few things in her bedroom. Install blackout curtains and dimmable lights so she can naturally get into a sleepy state at bedtime. Get her some sleep-inducing agents like chamomile tea. Make sure her bedroom is at a comfortable temperature, and her sheets are of a soft, breathable fabric. Mattresses are also an important consideration, and they should be of the right firmness for her needs.

5. Focus on her nutrition

Your Mom spent her entire life ensuring the family was well-fed and nourished, often ignoring her own nutrition. She’s probably bearing the brunt of it now, which is why it’s more important than ever to focus on her nutrition. Elderly women lose bone density, so food with calcium and Vitamin D is important in their diet.

Older people tend to absorb less protein from food, so they will have to eat more than they’re used to. Since the digestive system slows down during ageing, your Mom also needs more high-fiber foods. To prevent constipation and bloating, buy her a nice water bottle so she remembers to get her 8 glasses every day.

6. Encourage her to exercise

For most elderly women, exercise is the last thing on their minds, or they think that regular housework qualifies as exercise. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough, and they need to include a good mix of strength training, cardio and flexibility routines in their daily routines.

Our Moms are likely to have a resistance to lifting weights, but this is the single most important thing that can impact your ageing moms health and fitness. It doesn’t have to be too heavy – 1-3 pound weights are good enough to start with. Regular walks are good both for stamina and for overall health. When it comes to flexibility, yoga is an excellent option, improving strength, balance and stability, which prevents falls.

7. Make sure she socializes regularly

Several studies have shown that a lack of socialization is one of the chief reasons behind depression in older women, which can adversely affect physical health and slow down recovery. Make sure your Mom gets her share of socialization as a part of supporting your ageing moms health.

This can be easy enough for extroverted people, but a challenge for introverts. Plan little get-togethers at her place with her close friends or cousins. Celebrate small milestones in your family, involving her in the festivities. Stay connected through video calls multiple times a week, and send over the grandkids during vacations to spend time with Grandma.

8. Get her started on a hobby

A hobby is an excellent way to prevent cognitive decline in older women and keep illnesses like dementia at bay. Women often spend their lives sacrificing their desires and dreams, and their later years may be an excellent opportunity to pick up a long-lost hobby or interest.

Some easy options for older women are photography, baking, reading, or doing puzzles. If she’s up to it, your Mom can also go for more challenging ideas like traveling, digital design or training for a marathon. An excellent idea is to join a class to learn something new – not only will it keep her sharp, but it’ll also help her make friends – improving your ageing moms health and wellbeing overall.

9. Accept help

As much as you’d like it to be, supporting your ageing moms health is not a one-person job. It can be extremely stressful if you try to do everything yourself, especially if your Mom is over 75 or has a medical condition. And if you live far away, it becomes even more of a challenge.

Instead, be prepared to accept help. Create a network of neighbors, friends and other family members to share responsibilities or at least check in on your Mom once in a while. You can also hire someone to take her to appointments, do household chores or support her in anything she needs. It is an investment that makes life so much better for everyone involved.

10. Plan for the future

Some discussions are hard to have, but they are necessary. We’d love to have our Moms around us forever, but unfortunately, time waits for no one. Few people think about it, but discussing end-of-life wishes is also a part of caring for your ageing moms health.

Talk about who she’d like to designate as a healthcare proxy and if she has any specific wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment. You can also use this time to sort out legal matters, although it sounds scary and morbid. When everyone is on the same page, things become much easier should something unforeseen happen.

Reading these tips may inspire you to make a checklist and start checking things off. While that may give you peace of mind, aggressively taking control of your Mom’s life may lead to resistance from her end.

When caring for your ageing moms health and wellness, it’s important to remember that she’s not a child, and that she’s still your parent. Always offer solutions as recommendations, rather than doing everything yourself and making her feel infantilized.

You have to be prepared for moodiness, stubbornness and multiple complaints. It can be frustrating when all you’re trying to do is help, but you have to understand that she’s scared about her mortality and of losing control of her life. Treat her with respect, and have open, honest discussions with her like you would with any other adult.

Caring for your ageing moms health can be hard, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things you’ll do. It’s a chance to show her how much you love her and how you appreciate this opportunity to take care of her. With good understanding and open conversations, both of you can enjoy this phase of life together.

References:

• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• American Academy of Family Physicians

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 Prerna is the founder, editor and owner of ‘Maa of All Blogs’, one of India’s Top Parenting Blogs. Besides being a certified Ashtanga Yoga instructor, she is also a fashion designer and an economics graduate.

When she’s not busy running her home and business, she ensures she stays active – whether it’s running the half marathon, completing the Oxfam walk or climbing to the Everest base camp. Prerna enjoys wearing all her hats, and she does so in style!

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