While everyone loses bone mass as they age, some people lose it more than others, creating health issues and pain. It’s not an inevitability, and there are steps that even now, in their later years, your loved one can take to reduce the amount of bone loss they are currently experiencing and possibly slow the progression of osteoporosis so that they can continue to enjoy life to its fullest during these later years in life. As a caregiver, you can also follow some of these pieces of advice to help prevent your risk of osteoporosis as well.
Know the Risk Factors
While everyone has some risk factors for developing osteoporosis (just getting older is a major risk factor), other risk factors may make it more likely. Understanding these can help you and your elderly loved one know how much preventative action should be taken.
Risk Factors You Cannot Change
Let’s first look at the risk factors that your loved one cannot change. If your elderly loved one has multiple unmodifiable risk factors, it will increase the damage that the modifiable risk factors can pose.
Age. As stated, simply getting older increases the risk.
Heredity. Having a close family member who suffered from osteoporosis increases the risk.
Sex. Females are more likely than men to develop osteoporosis.
Early Menopause. If your elderly mother or grandmother entered menopause early -either naturally or by having their ovaries removed – it can increase the risk due to the loss of estrogen.
Ethnicity – Asian and Caucasians have the highest risk of osteoporosis
Small Bones – Men and women with a naturally smaller stature and bone structure have less bone mass to lose before it becomes osteoporosis, thus increasing their risk.
Risk Factors That Can be Addressed
While unmodifiable risk factors cannot be changed, you can help your elderly loved one take steps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis by making some lifestyle changes even now. The sooner the changes start, the more they will reduce the amount of bone loss your loved one will have.
Excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol can reduce the rate at which bones form.
Smoking tobacco. Smoking accelerates bone loss, speeding it up to a dangerous rate.
Being sedentary. An inactive lifestyle increases the rate at which bone loss occurs because bone-strengthening exercises such as walking, dancing, and playing sports like pickleball keep bones and muscles strong.
A diet lacking calcium and vitamin D. These two nutrients are key to helping bones get what they need to stay strong and resilient. Calcium keeps bones strong, and vitamin D is needed to absorb and use the calcium properly.
Start the Road to Better Bones Today
While the damage already done cannot be changed, your loved one can take steps today to support the current bone mass that they have and prevent further damage. Sometimes it can be done on their own, and other times, your elderly loved one may need the support of someone who offers senior home care services.
A senior home care service team can help your loved one reduce their risk of osteoporosis by providing a meal plan that is rich in calcium and vitamin D, encouraging physical activity, and even helping your loved one get outside to soak up extra vitamin D from the sun safely. Little changes made now with the help of a senior home care provider can make a big difference in your loved one’s bone health.