Surviving cancer is something to be celebrated. However, it’s important for senior cancer survivors to continue maintaining their health using certain strategies. Here are a few suggestions to help your elderly loved one accomplish this.
Get Proper Nutrition
Cancer treatments can ravage a senior’s body and contribute to malnutrition. Your loved one should strive to eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day to give his or her body the nutrients and antioxidants it needs to prevent illness. Offering to help with meal planning and providing ideas to make eating healthy fun can ensure your loved one has the fuel he or she needs to recover.
Start an Exercise Routine
The side effects from cancer and its treatments may make it challenging to begin exercising, but even small workouts during recovery can boost your loved one’s immune system and help him or her regain strength. Once the doctor gives his or her approval, start slowly by encouraging simple exercises like partner stretches, short walks, and water aerobics classes. Over time, gradually add in more activity until your loved one achieves a comfortable level of exertion.
A professional caregiver can help your loved one exercise at home safely. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Prestige Home Care Orlando, a leading provider of home care. Prestige Home Care Orlando provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Stay on Track with Follow-Up Appointments
After beating cancer, the last thing many survivors want is to see another doctor. However, your loved one’s medical team plays a valuable role in his or her ability to prevent a recurrence of the disease. Your loved one should make sure he or she has transportation to and from medical appointments, and he or she should follow all aftercare instructions.
Transportation to medical appointments is just one of the valuable services a home caregiver can provide. In Windermere, respite care is a great help to many families. Caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times, which puts family caregivers at risk for burnout. However, an in-home caregiver can take over your loved one’s care, allowing you the time you need to focus on your own health, maintain a full-time job, or care for other members of your family.
Prevent Future Cancer
After certain cancer treatments, survivors are at greater risk for other types of cancer. For example, the skin exposed to radiation treatment is more susceptible to damage from the sun. For this reason, your loved one should make a few lifestyle changes, such as wearing sunscreen and quitting smoking, that can help him or her avoid having to battle a different type of cancer.
Practice Weight Management
Weight fluctuations are common during and after cancer treatment. However, research has shown maintaining an ideal weight can prevent certain types of cancer and protect a senior’s overall health. Eating regular well-balanced meals can ensure your loved one gets the nutrition he or she needs to prevent weight-related health problems.
Make Time for Laughter
Laughter truly is the best medicine, and it’s important for your loved one to get out there and embrace life after cancer. Your loved one can reach out to family members and caregivers to ensure he or she enjoys social interaction that lifts his or her spirit. Spending time outdoors, attending community events, and talking to others can all help your loved one move on after treatment.
Senior cancer survivors can turn to home care providers to help them manage their health and prevent additional illnesses. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. Altamonte Springs families can rely on Prestige Home Care Orlando to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. Schedule a free in-home consultation by giving us a call today at (407) 604-0504.