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A Guide to Improving the Respiratory Health of Seniors

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With growing age, maintaining your physical health is important. The respiratory system performs the most essential of the tasks for your body and breathing is vital for humans. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the respiratory system healthier has become a priority, especially for seniors. The following is a helpful guide to improving and maintaining the respiratory health of seniors.

1. Quit smoking.

Smoking is one of the leading reasons for a weak respiratory system in seniors. Even passive smoking harms the lungs and damages the respiratory system. Regardless of how long you have been smoking, the best time to quit is right now. Get your breath back by giving up on tobacco and nicotine today.

2. Set the right posture.

Your lungs are made up of soft tissue. With a bent and poor posture, the lungs bend as well. They’ll occupy as much room as your posture allows. Stay mindful of your posture and try to sit as straight as possible. This ensures that the lungs are unobstructed, and you can breathe much easier with this simple step.

3. Add exercise to your daily routine.

Exercising is great for all ages. Seniors can still benefit from it to improve their cardiovascular and respiratory health. Exercise also prevents muscle atrophy around the chest, which helps the lungs to open up freely. You can also incorporate deep breathing exercises in your daily workout to ensure better lung health. If you’re not sure what exercises are safe for you, please consult with your doctor.

4. Get screened and checked routinely.

Going for routine checkups should be on the priority list. Don’t miss your doctor’s appointment under any circumstances. It is better to get screened and checked routinely so the doctor can catch any sort of medical anomaly early on. Early detection of medical conditions can save your life and finances from a huge loss.

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Conclusion

Depending on your physical capabilities, taking care of your respiratory health as a senior can be difficult alone. Let the trained and experienced professionals take care of you. That is what we are here for. Home Instead Senior Care provides compassionate in-home care services which includes personal care, light housekeeping, meal prepping, grocery shopping, transportation, and much more. Learn more about how we can help by visiting our website. Get in touch with us by calling (910) 421-2574 to avail our services.

Assisted Living versus In-Home Senior Living Care

Many families have to struggle with the decision on what they should do about the living situation for their loved ones who have reached retirement age. Many seniors tend to prefer to stay inside their own home for as long as possible due to the familiarity and the attachment they have, which is completely understandable if not incredibly subjective.

Of course, with every compromise comes a threshold for when one choice is simply no longer sustainable, but there’s always a need to respect and accept the desires of a loved one. But there are several other questions that should be asked when deciding between an assisted living facility or in-home care services.

The Right Questions to Ask for Senior Living

There are a number of things you should inquire about before making such an important decision about an aging parent. Do they live alone? Is there somebody they could move in with? Do they require constant medical care? Would they be comfortable having someone caring for and feeding them while keeping them safe?

You would be well off sitting down and creating a list of any potential queries so you have all your bases covered!

Weighing Your Options

From there, you can move on to the pros and cons of an assisted living facility versus in-home care. As we already mentioned, many will opt to continue living in their homes where they are most comfortable.

To move away from the social isolation and poor nutrition that is typically caused from independent senior living, many families will hire in-home caregivers who will provide oversight, prepare meals, and take care of any transportation services. On the other hand, some will choose to go with an assisted living community so they’re among others their age they can interact with.

Coming to a Final Decision

Any choice you make should always take the wishes of your loved one into consideration. That way, you will be able to come to a solution together so everyone feels good about the arrangement. There are other factors you should think about.

This is why you should get in touch with a professional who can sit down with you and go over these matters in full. In the meantime, if you have any questions or thoughts you would like to share regarding this determination, be sure to share them in the comments section below. We would love to read them!