September was International pain awareness month. We thought we would put together a few tips for helping a senior loved one manage their pain.
Sadly chronic pain is a common issue for many seniors, and it can be very difficult to watch as your aging loved one facing these challenges of what seem like unrelenting discomfort.
You may not be able to heal your loved one’s health issues, you do have options to help them learn how to manage the pain.
Here are 5 strategies to try to help with their comfort
1. Use Prescription Medications Properly
People with chronic pain may be tempted to misuse their painkillers, seniors are no different. Sometimes when we over take pain medication it will cause increased tolerance and their current prescription is no longer as effective.
On the flip side, your loved one may need some help remembering to take medication. Skipping an anti-inflammatory could actually increase their pain.
Either way, creating a dosing schedule, and using strategies to help your loved one follow it will ensure they are taking their medication properly and getting the most benefit from them.
2. Encourage Gentle Exercise
It’s difficult or even seemingly impossible to exercise when you’re in pain. However, many causes of chronic pain respond well to regular movement.
For example —Arthritis: many seniors report that their pain is relieved throughout the day as they move their joints.
Find some fun and low-impact forms of exercise your loved one to participate in. Walking, chair exercises, and yoga are a few options that are great and can relieve chronic pain.
3. Focus On Enhancing Sleep Quality
Did you know that mood and energy levels can affect how we feel pain? Simply being tired or cranky can make pain seem worse.
However, severe pain can interrupt sleep. It’s important to find ways to make sleep better for your loved one. Your loved one may need to change the medications they takes at night or require someone to help him or her change positions throughout the night to alleviate pressure on certain parts of the body. Check out our blog for some tips on getting a good sleep: https://www.canes.on.ca/blog/importance-sleep-seniors
4. Prevent Additional Injuries
It’s no surprise to learn that seniors living with chronic pain are at greater risk for getting hurt. For example, back pain may alter your loved one’s walking pattern and increase the risk for falls.
An injury can exacerbate current health conditions that cause current pain, or it could create a new source of discomfort.
Talk to your loved one about the best ways to prevent new injuries. At-home caregivers can supervise seniors and reduce the risk of injuries from falls and other accidents.
5. Provide Distractions
Did you know the ability to manage pain increases when you feel happy? Seniors who are happy and are preoccupied with enjoyable activities are better equipped to handle and even forget about pain.
Help your loved one find things to do that take the focus off of the pain, such as reading a book or engaging in a social activity.
Being busy helps may even help your loved one stay active both mentally and physically so chronic pain has less impact on their quality of life.
If you or a loved one is in pain be sure to talk to your doctor. Doctors are you first line of defence and they can help you find some solutions to improve your quality of life.
