Fatigue is defined as extreme tiredness that can be caused by illness, physical exercise, or mental strain. Other words that mean the same are weariness, exhaustion, and tiredness. Being tired sometimes because of a bad night’s sleep or battling an illness is normal, but what do you do if your elderly loved one seems fatigued day in and day out, finding it difficult to muster the energy to enjoy her favorite activities? Companion care at home providers can help.
Fatigue Origins
If fatigue is persistent, the first thing you’ll want to do with your loved one is to have her visit her doctor for a wellness exam. Fatigue can be a side effect of many conditions, so it’s important to explore these possibilities first.
If, after a thorough exam, it is determined that your loved one doesn’t have something else causing the fatigue, you’ll want to talk to your loved one about making some changes at home, like companion care at home, to help her get her energy back up to where it should be so she can get back into the swing of things and enjoy her life to the fullest.
Five Lifestyle Choices That Can Boost Energy
If there isn’t a defined medical condition that is causing your loved one’s fatigue, enlist the help of a companion care at home provider to help her restore her energy levels by making these changes at home.
Eat Well
What your loved one eats matters. Some foods increase energy, and some foods drain energy. Items like fried foods, refined grains, and added sugar all drain energy, even if they seem to provide a momentary boost in energy levels.
Your loved one may need some help reconstructing her daily diet to include foods that provide long-term energy, like complex carbohydrates, lean meats, and water. Yes, staying hydrated is also an important step in retaining energy.
Exercise Regularly
The catch-22 of fatigue is that your loved one may say she’s too tired to exercise, but doing that exercise will provide her with more energy than lying on the couch. Enlist a companion care at home provider to help your loved one develop a routine of being active. Even taking a walk around the block twice a day can help her energy levels grow.
Stop Taking Long Naps
Fatigue can make your loved one want to nap more, but long naps often lead to more fatigue. They also then make going to sleep at night more difficult and disrupt the overall sleep pattern, which can lead to more fatigue.
Make Fun Plans
Fatigue can be caused by depression and loneliness. Having plans with the companion care at home provider to play some fun card games or to meet up with friends at the park for a picnic can increase energy levels and reduce fatigue that is caused by mental exhaustion.
Ask for Help
If there are chores that your loved one cannot do anymore without becoming physically exhausted, it might be time to ask for help around the home. A companion care at home provider can help with chores that your loved one can no longer do so she can save up her energy for things she wants to do.
Sometimes, just making a few changes can help a person feel tremendously better. Start today in one area with your elderly loved one and gradually make other changes to see how much each area improves her fatigue levels, and consider the support of a companion care at home agency for your loved one.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in Aurora, CO, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Denver, CO, today. Call (303) 647-1800
At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Denver, CO, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Denver, Englewood, Lakewood, Aurora, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Centennial, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Castle Rock and surrounding areas in Colorado.
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