What Causes Poor Circulation in Seniors?

Circulation refers to the flow of blood throughout the body. All too often seniors find that they’re suddenly dealing with poor circulation, especially in their extremities. Understanding the causes and looking for ways to solve the problem is really important to ensure that seniors have the best possible quality of life. Home care assistance can be a helpful resource toward this goal.

Causes of Poor Circulation

There are so many issues that can contribute to poor circulation in aging adults. Chronic health issues are the most common cause. Hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis are just a few examples. Leading a sedentary lifestyle is also a contributing factor. Smoking, medication side effects, and dehydration are other possibilities. If seniors don’t know why they have poor circulation, they need to talk to their doctors to find out what’s going on.

Staying Active Helps

Becoming more physically active can help quite a bit with circulation issues. Seniors should always talk to their doctors before starting to exercise, but once they have the go-ahead, they can try all sorts of activities. It’s always best to start out slowly with low-impact exercises. Walking, water aerobics, and even chair exercises are all good options.

Maintaining a Healthy Diet Is Important

Eating a healthy diet can also make a world of difference when it comes to managing poor circulation. Often seniors don’t have the energy or desire to cook healthier foods, however. Senior care providers can take that task off their hands and ensure that aging adults are eating healthy meals, getting plenty of water, and enjoying what they eat as well.

Compression Garments Might Be Recommended

In some cases, doctors might recommend that seniors start wearing compression garments to help with poor circulation. There are prescription compression garments, but there are also socks, stockings, and gloves that seniors can purchase without a prescription that can help them to improve circulation. Putting these garments on can be difficult, so having home care assistance there to help can be a great option.

Pay Attention to Temperature

Some seniors are more sensitive to the cold than they used to be. They might find that even in hotter weather, being exposed to air conditioning affects their circulation. Then in the winter, they find that the cold weather has the same effect. Again, having home care providers available can be a huge help in managing temperature-related circulation issues.

Elevate Legs and Consider Massage Tools

Another option is for seniors to elevate their legs whenever possible. While their feet are elevated, they should periodically rotate their feet at the ankles to help with circulation, too. Massage tools can help to stimulate blood flow and boost circulation. These types of tools are usually boot-shaped and use air to move blood back up the legs.

Regular Checkups Are Vital

If seniors are experiencing poor circulation, it’s vital that they see their doctors as often as recommended. Skipping appointments could mean that they miss something that might have changed regarding their health. Home care assistance can help them to get to their appointments on time, too.

Keeping circulation going is essential for seniors. There are a variety of ways to do this safely, and home care assistance can help seniors to stay on track with their care plans.