If your aging parent has recently suffered a heart attack, one recommendation that you have likely heard for boosting their health and helping them to reduce their risk of another heart attack is to lose weight. Being overweight or obese greatly increases the risk for a heart attack because it puts additional strain on the cardiovascular system and also likely involves other risk factors such as eating an unhealthy diet, remaining sedentary, or suffering other health complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Making the changes to support weight loss and the maintenance of a healthy weight can be very difficult for an elderly adult who is accustomed to a certain lifestyle, but as their family caregiver, you can make a tremendous difference in helping them to recognize the importance of these changes and achieve the goals set for them.
Use these tips to help your parent achieve and maintain a healthy weight after a heart attack:
-Encourage realistic goals. Your parent saying that they want to lose 100 pounds is going to be frustrating and daunting. Setting an initial goal of 5 pounds, however, is accessible and a strong first step.
-Start small. Rather than trying to do a total overhaul of your parent's lifestyle immediately, start with small changes. Encourage them to drink more water. Trade out two meals a week for meatless options. Start taking a walk every other day. When your parent sees that they are able to be successful with these changes, they will feel more motivated to keep going.
-Research recipes together. Eating a healthy diet does not have to mean that they are not able to continue to enjoy the flavors and foods that they love. Research recipes together to find options that fit in with their personal tastes but that also coordinate with their healthy eating guidelines. Also, encourage them to be adventurous and to look for foods that may be new to them, but that sounds delicious. Experimenting can open up a whole world of healthy, satisfying eating for your parent.
-Get active in fun ways. Many people think of exercise as daunting, difficult, and unpleasant. Encourage your parent to find types of exercise that are fun and fulfilling for them, such as taking walks in a park, swimming at a gym or recreational center, taking a senior aerobics class, taking yoga, or even taking a dance class.
Being a family caregiver for your aging parent can be extremely challenging and stressful, but fortunately, home care can help. An in-home care provider can step in to fill care gaps, provide supervision and care when you are not able to be with your parent, and offer companionship and support to encourage the highest quality of life possible as they age in place.
These services can include safe and reliable transportation to ensure that your parent can go where they need and want to go without having to wait for you, physical support and assistance for mobility issues, help with activities of daily living and personal care requirements, and companionship that will boost your parent's activity level and mental and emotional health as they age in place. Knowing your parent will have consistent access to this care will relieve your stress and ensure that you are able to focus your energy, attention, and resources in the way that is most effective and efficient.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering elder care in West Hollywood, CA, please call Mom's Home Care and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Our number is 323-244-4789.
Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/Heart-Attack_UCM_001092_SubHomePage.jsp
