Parkinson’s is a progressive nervous system disorder that harms the body, especially when it comes to movement. Over time, symptoms such as tremors, impaired posture, and speech changes worsen, making it difficult for older adults to perform daily tasks. However, your elderly loved one can practice some of the tips below to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease naturally.
Consume More Organic Foods
Herbicides and pesticides are two common factors associated with Parkinson’s development in older adults, but eating more organic foods and raw vegetables could stave off the disease. Organic foods are full of folic acid, which could significantly reduce the risk of Parkinson’s. You can take your loved one to the local farmers market to purchase organic foods and help with preparing meals that can keep him or her in excellent mental, physical, and emotional shape.
If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior home care. Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise keeps the heart and bones healthy, and regular movement can increase the production of new brain cells and slow down cell aging. These are natural ways to prevent Parkinson’s and boost quality of life. The best movements for older adults include aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, and cycling. Staying active can reduce inflammation in the brain that can cause Parkinson’s to develop. Encourage your loved one to do at least three 30- to 40-minute exercise sessions each week, which could increase the size of his or her hippocampus and lead to more dopamine production.
Professional caregivers can be a wonderful source of support and information about healthy lifestyle habits for seniors. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Roseville, California, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Get Plenty of Rest
Getting at least eight hours of rest each night could raise your loved one’s dopamine levels and stave off Parkinson’s naturally. When developing sleep routines, make sure your loved one steps away from the computer, television, or smartphone a couple of hours before bedtime. He or she could also take a warm bath before going to sleep to prevent restless nights. Getting plenty of rest allows the body to repair and renew cells and remove toxins. As a result, the body increases concentrations of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and naturally staves off Parkinson’s disease.
Increase Vitamin D Consumption
Vitamin D helps the body regulate phosphate and calcium, which keep the bones healthy and lower the risk of Parkinson’s. The best sources of vitamin D are animal fat and exposure to sunlight. Find healthy meat and dairy products for your loved one to consume, and make sure the animals are grass-fed. To increase sunlight exposure, you should get your loved one out of the home as often as possible. He or she can work in the garden, take a walk through the neighborhood, or attend community events. Try to choose outdoor locations with shaded areas your loved one can go to from time to time, and always make sure he or she is dressed appropriately to prevent sunburn.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elder care. Roseville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Home Care Assistance team at (916) 226-3737 today.