Does your elderly loved one often complain about her legs being tired and achy? While it’s common for most people to have tired muscles after a big workout or after a lot of exercising, for some elderly, tired legs are a consistent problem, making being active and participating in daily living activities difficult, if not impossible. Personal care providers can offer services that will help with a loved one’s hygiene and with chores.
Tired legs are often a symptom linked to another health or environmental issue. Discovering the cause and then helping your loved one take steps to treat the cause or manage the situation can help her avoid having overly tired legs that interfere with her being able to do the things she needs to remain independent and active.
Common Causes of Tired Legs
Muscle Loss
As a person ages, they lose muscle mass. Strong, healthy leg muscles are needed to support the body as it moves around – walking, climbing stairs, carrying objects, and so much more. As muscles shrink, a person becomes weaker, making it feel harder to do certain activities that were once easy.
Peripheral Artery Disease
This disease leads to poor circulation in the legs, which makes it difficult for the legs to get the blood flow they need to be active. People with this condition will not only experience tired, weak legs, but may also battle numbness, tingling, and pain.
Diabetes
If your loved one has diabetes, she can struggle with tired legs more often. Diabetes can reduce circulation in the legs and lead to pain, cramping, and swelling. Diabetes can also lead to neuropathy, which reduces the ability to feel in the legs, making walking difficult and sometimes dangerous for those with diabetes.
Chronic Heart Failure
When the heart is struggling to pump blood to the body, all areas will feel weaker and struggle to perform as needed, including the legs. Your loved one may find she gets extremely tired from everyday activities such as climbing up the stairs to get to the next floor of the home or walking down a long driveway to get the mail.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins occur in many elderly people as the veins lose their ability to transport blood properly. They begin to swell and enlarge, and are often quite visible on the legs. A large number of varicose veins can make the legs tired when your loved one gets a lot of exercise.
Four Steps to Improving Tired Legs
- Don’t give up. No matter how tired your loved one feels, it’s important that she keeps active. Leg muscles to be routinely used to keep them in shape and provide the energy needed.
- Pamper them with a soak. After a hard day, a good soak in a warm bath with Epson salt can provide relief.
- Eat well. Make sure your loved one is eating enough protein and important nutrients to supply her legs with the energy needed.
- Elevate when resting. Keeping the legs elevated when resting will help prevent swelling and feelings of heaviness.
Getting Personal Care at Home for Tired Legs
If tired legs are preventing your loved one from doing some daily living activities, consider having someone help with her personal care at home. A trained provider who offers personal care at home can help with chores that are too strenuous, as well as assist with caring for your loved one, such as getting a bath ready for her or making sure she eats well.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Personal Care Services in Queens County, NY, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and NYC, including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stony Brook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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