You’ve been taking care of your aging in place elderly mother for about a year now, and everything was going fine until recently. But now mom’s energy level has decreased noticeably, and she’s stopped participating in many of her favorite activities. Your mom’s not keeping up her appearance like before, quit going to the gym and won’t even join her friends for bridge club. Her lack of interest and decreased energy have got you worried, but you’re not sure what to do. Thankfully, helping a lethargic senior regain their “zest for life” is possible when using these tips.

Why Do Seniors Get Lethargic?

The number one cause of a lack of interest and decreased energy in the elderly population is fatigue. Once a senior begins feeling listless, they oftentimes lose interest in keeping up their appearance and engaging in normal activities. And, in most cases their fatigue is attributable to one or more of these factors:

  • Blood anemia
  • Depression or Loneliness
  • Poor nutrition due to chewing or swallowing difficulties
  • Sleep disorders, including insomnia and sleep apnea
  • Thyroid problems, notably hypothyroidism
  • Inflammatory disorders, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Cancer
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Infections and illnesses, including the flu or urinary tract infections (UTIs)

For an aging in place senior, feeling lethargic for a long period of time can eventually threaten their at-home freedom and independence. The first step for your mom is taking her to the doctor for a complete physical and some blood work.

Keeping a Senior Recharged and Refreshed

Depending upon the cause, these are some proven ways to boost an elderly person’s energy levels:

Exercise

This may be hard at first, but encourage your mother to do some low-impact forms of exercise, like water aerobics, walking or Yoga. In addition to increasing their energy, regular exercise also benefits seniors in many other ways, like improved heart and lung function, a stronger immune system, increased stamina and promoting a better night’s sleep.

Enough Sleep

While sleeping, our bodies repair damaged tissues and replenish depleted energy stores. But when we don’t get 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep per night, we feel drowsy and tired throughout the day. If mom’s constantly tired, try getting her to take “catnaps” periodically during the day. Regular exercise will also help mom sleep restfully for longer periods of time, and you may want to consider getting her a new mattress for her bed that optimally supports her body weight.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration can make a senior feel tired and worn down. Make sure that your loved one gets plenty of water and other fluids during the day. If it’s hard for mom to drink a lot of water try some other tasty sources of fluid. For example you can include soups, fresh veggies and fruits. Proper hydration also hones mental alertness and concentration, which helps ward off dementia.

Lose Weight

Being overweight can deplete a person’s energy stores faster than normal and place additional stress on their heart and lungs. On the other hand, maintaining a healthy body weight will increase energy, relieve pressure off the cardiovascular system and help alleviate sleep apnea.

Eat Frequently

Eating several small, nutrient-rich meals and snacks throughout the day helps the body maintain its normal metabolism and blood sugar levels. Avoid feeding mom foods high in processed sugar and carbohydrates. You can substitute in nutritious, heart-healthy foods like nuts, whole grains, freshly cut veggies and fruits.

When you can’t be there to assist mom with all these energy boosting ideas, consider hiring a professional in-home caregiver from a licensed agency who can help keep her on the right track to feeling more energized and refreshed.

In-Home Caregivers that Help Alabama Seniors Stay Active

Helping an aging in place loved one stay active is hard when you have your own household to manage or live far away. When you need a hand, call Seniors Prefer Homecare. As one of Northern Alabama’s most-trusted home care agencies, our fully licensed and insured caregivers will serve as an extended family in your loved one’s home so they can keep on aging comfortably in place right where they want to be.

In addition to helping independent seniors feel more refreshed, our carefully screened aides can perform other duties. For instance, we can assist with light housework, personal hygiene, meals, food shopping, medication reminders, transportation and companionship. And, all our family trusted services can be individually combined in an affordable package to put your mind at ease! To learn more about Seniors Prefer Homecare, or to schedule a FREE, in-home consultation today for a senior in Tuscaloosa or Huntsville, AL, please visit: seniorspreferhomecare.com now!