How Visiting Angels Helps Seniors in Wheat Ridge, CO and Surrounding Areas Maintain Good Bone Health

Visiting Angels helps seniors in Wheat Ridge, Denver and surrounding areas in Colorado maintain healthy habits in order to increase bone mineral density

With age, it is common for people to gradually lose bone mineral density, which puts older adults at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis. This condition is characterized by depleted bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue.

Unfortunately, the onset of osteoporosis is often painless so many seniors do not get diagnosed until they have a fracture or some other accident. To make matters worse, fractures can have a profound impact on one’s quality of life and even lead to the loss of independence.

However, by introducing certain lifestyle changes into their daily routine, your loved one can significantly improve their bone health and diminish the risk of developing osteoporosis. At Visiting Angels Denver, we can help your loved one stick to a healthy diet, exercise regularly and anything else that can help them maintain good bone health.

Following a Nutritious Diet

As eating a nutritious diet can minimize the risk of osteoporosis, it is fairly important that your loved one consumes sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D on a daily basis. The recommended quantities for seniors over 60 include 1,200 mg of calcium per day and 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day.

Calcium Is Essential

Calcium is vital to maintaining good bone health as it is a major component of our bone tissue. When calcium levels in the blood are low, which often happens with aging, the body takes calcium from the bones in order to make up for the low levels in the blood. This process can lead to reduced bone density. Nonetheless, a diet rich in calcium can help remedy this.

These foods are a great source of calcium:

All sorts of dairy
Green vegetables such as broccoli and kale
Canned fish with edible bones
Oranges, peaches, and dried figs
Various types of nuts, especially almonds and Brazil nuts
Calcium-fortified foods

On the other hand, those who follow a strict diet or are allergic to calcium-rich foods can get sufficient calcium through supplementation.

At Visiting Angels Denver, our caregivers can prepare calcium-rich meals and snacks for your loved one, as well as remind them to take supplements as needed.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D promotes proper absorption of calcium and ensures the renewal of bone tissue. In fact, by getting the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, your loved one can reduce the risk of falls and fractures up to 20 percent. While people of all ages commonly absorb vitamin D through sunshine, older adults should also take supplements and make changes in their dietary habits.

Foods rich in vitamin D include:

Tuna, mackerel, and sardines
Cod liver oil
Margarine, flakes, yogurt, as well as generally all foods fortified with vitamin D

Regular Exercise

A low-impact exercise regimen can do a world of good for your loved one - slow down bone density loss, improve strength and mobility, and reduce the likelihood of falls.

These activities can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis:

Aerobics
Thai chi
Walking
Dancing
Tennis

At Visiting Angels Denver, we can support physician-prescribed diets and exercise regimens and help your mom or dad improve their bone health. Our dedicated caregivers can prepare healthy, calcium-rich meals, accompany your parent to the community center for exercising, and make sure they continue to live comfortably and safely at home for longer.

Call our Wheat Ridge, CO office today and learn more.

Visiting Angels provides quality in-home care for seniors throughout Arvada, Aurora, Denver, Glendale, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and the surrounding areas of Colorado.