As adults age, they often have difficulty maintaining the energy levels that come naturally to the young. Health conditions, hormonal changes, and environmental factors combine to reduce energy, leaving seniors feeling tired or drowsy. Here are a few ways seniors can boost their energy levels.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is one of the easiest ways to increase energy levels. Thirst often decreases with age, and when seniors don’t feel thirsty, it’s easy to become dehydrated. If the body doesn’t get adequate water, it can make seniors feel sluggish or lightheaded. To ward off dehydration-related listlessness, seniors can keep a water bottle on hand, acting as a constant reminder that they need to drink throughout the day. Seniors should aim to drink at least 64 ounces of water every day.
Get Some Exercise
When seniors are feeling listless, lacing up their tennis shoes and hitting the gym may be the last thing on their to-do list. However, exercise is a great way to boost energy levels. Cardiovascular exercise, such as water aerobics or power walking, promotes the healthy production of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which wake up the brain and the body. Strength training exercises such as weight lifting build adequate muscle mass. When muscle density increases, the body’s ability to burn calories speeds up, which optimizes overall physical efficiency, leading to sustained energy levels. Some seniors have health conditions that make exercising a challenge. Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Des Moines, IA, Home Care Assistance are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
Modify Meal Schedules
Seniors who find themselves getting sleepy at a certain time every day may want to reconsider their meal schedule. For example, those who always feel ready for a nap three hours after lunch may need to spread out their daily caloric intake. Sticking to a diet of three large meals a day can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, which can lead to variations in energy levels. Eating small meals more frequently throughout the day may make it easier to maintain consistent energy levels. For seniors who need help with scheduling and preparing healthy meals, a professional caregiver can be a great asset. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of at-home care. Des Moines families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s 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.
Sleep Smart
Sleep may be an obvious way to increase energy levels, but for many seniors, achieving high-quality sleep is easier said than done. For seniors who don’t get seven to eight hours of sleep per night, there are plenty of ways to enhance sleep quality. Everyone has different optimal sleep conditions, and all seniors need to find the sleep habits that work for them. Some can only sleep in pitch-black rooms, and some sleep best when they adjust the thermostat down ten degrees before getting into bed. Others like to meditate just before bedtime. Seniors can also try to track their sleep with apps such as Pillow or via simple pen and paper so they can determine which habits work best for them. After getting eight hours of high-quality sleep every night, seniors are likely to experience a notable increase in their energy levels.Seniors who experience low energy levels that aren’t related to health conditions may get a boost by following the above tips, and a professional caregiver can help. In Des Moines, in-home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call (515) 264-2438 today.
