
Country music legend Dolly Parton recently told her fans that she’s been battling kidney stones and an infection, which caused her to postpone some of her performances. As relatable and down-to-earth as Dolly is, she’s also an example of how self-care can be so important for older adults. Home care providers can help seniors to adopt habits that can help them to prevent their own battle with kidney stones.
Prioritize Hydration
Proper hydration makes a difference in so many health issues, especially kidney health. The crystals that form in the kidneys are less likely to occur when seniors are properly hydrated. If seniors aren’t excited about drinking more water, though, they’re not alone.
People of all ages have trouble drinking enough fluids. Home care providers can help by reminding seniors to sip hydrating beverages regularly, while also avoiding dehydrating beverages like sugary or caffeinated drinks.
Talk to Doctors About Minerals and Other Nutrients
Some seniors who are prone to kidney stones might need to limit some minerals and other nutrients that could make kidney stones form more easily. Sodium, calcium, and foods high in oxalate, like spinach, could all be a problem for some seniors.
Before eliminating anything from their diet, seniors should talk with their doctors about what types of kidney stones are a problem for them in particular.
Work with Doctors to Put a Plan Together
Medical providers can take samples and run tests to help put a comprehensive kidney stone prevention plan together for aging adults. There may be medications seniors can take or specific foods that they need to avoid.
Regular checkups help seniors to stay on target with their plan, which may be temporary if they’re able to keep their kidneys healthy.
Plan Healthy Meals
Eating healthier meals in general, especially meals that are hydrating, is a great plan for seniors no matter what. Often seniors don’t feel that they have the time or energy to plan and cook healthy meals that also taste great.
Home care providers can help with this, making sure that seniors have lots of choices for healthy foods all throughout the day.
Get Support with Household Tasks and Other Needs
Recovering from kidney stones and related issues takes a lot of energy for seniors. If they’re dealing with kidney stones often, seniors may find it difficult to keep up with household tasks and other chores that are an important part of daily life.
Home care assistance offers hands-on support with whatever tasks seniors are having trouble keeping up with on their own.
Dolly Parton already has a lot of support in all of her daily activities, and most seniors don’t have nearly that much support. Home care services can make all the difference for aging adults who are having a difficult time managing and preventing kidney stones from recurring too often.
With the right support, family caregivers can also feel better knowing that the seniors they love are getting assistance with hydration, dietary changes, and someone to offer a helping hand.
If you or someone you know needs Home Care in Rochester, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 525-7742 for more information.