Vitamin D deficiency may be more common than you think, especially among those over the age of 65 and with dark complexions. Here are a few ways that seniors can improve their vitamin D levels, and how senior home care can help.
Why Vitamin D is Important for Seniors
Vitamin D is an important nutrient for everyone, but it’s especially important for your senior to have enough Vitamin D in her diet. Vitamin D plays an important role in bone and muscle strength by maintaining the balance of calcium in the blood. Calcium is a key component to maintaining bone strength as well as supporting healthy tissue. Without enough Vitamin D in their diet, seniors may find themselves feeling fatigued all the time, have muscle pain and weakness, and/or struggle with mood changes such as depression.
Five Tips for Increasing Vitamin D Levels in Seniors
Get Out in the Sun
The number one way to increase Vitamin D levels is to get out into the sun. For many elderly who have mobility issues, this may seem daunting, but a person only needs about 10-15 minutes of sun for the body to be able to begin producing Vitamin D. The skin has a compound in it that when exposed to UV-B radiation from the sun, it becomes vitamin D. Vitamin D derived from the sun remains in the system for twice as long as vitamin D from food or supplements, making it the best way to get Vitamin D.
One concern for many is the desire to protect the skin from the harmful elements of direct sun while still allowing the body to convert those sun rays into Vitamin D. If your loved one is housebound, a senior home care provider can bring her outside for some sunshine in the morning and late afternoon.
Enjoy Plenty of Fatty Fish and Seafood
Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel are packed full of Vitamin D. A serving of canned salmon alone can provide almost 50% of what your loved one needs in her daily intake of Vitamin D. Have your senior home care team add in one serving of fatty fish or seafood each day to increase the amount of Vitamin D your loved one receives from this source.
Add Wild Mushrooms to the Diet
Mushrooms are like people in that they can create their own Vitamin D, so enjoying some wild mushrooms can be a great way to add Vitamin D into your loved one’s diet, especially if she is vegetarian or doesn’t eat fish. Some wild mushrooms provide as much as 300% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin D. For safety reasons, always purchase the mushrooms from a reputable seller and never hunt for mushrooms on your own.
Take a Supplement
Many doctors will recommend a supplement, especially if your loved one’s Vitamin D levels are extremely low and need a big boost to get close to normal levels. Have your loved one talk to her doctor about what her dosage should be and how often she should take it. A senior home care provider can help her manage this new supplement with her other medications.
Try a UV Lamp
Finally, if your loved one cannot get enough sunlight outside, you might consider having her use a UV Lamp to get the UV rays she needs. Use with caution and follow all instructions to prevent any possible skin damage while using.
Reference
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4399494
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Sudbury, MA, please contact the caring staff at PlatinumCare + today. Call (617) 237-0867.
PlatinumCare + was born out of the desire and passion to provide the very best home health care possible in Brookline, Dover, Newton, Needham, Watertown, Weston, Cambridge, Lincoln, Sudbury, Belmont, Boston MA, and surrounding areas.
All with decades of experience, Tim in IT Operations, Support, and Management, Brenda in Client Relations, Healthcare Services & Sales Management, and Anne in Healthcare as a Nurse Practitioner combined their skills to form what is now PlatinumCare +.
As immigrants to the US, all came from backgrounds where Healthcare for aging parents was a responsibility of the immediate family and the entire community. Aging, sick, or terminal community members were cared for physically, emotionally, and financially by family, friends, including strangers! This community approach, Healthcare with a difference, delivered with the utmost love, care, sacrifice, and passion, forms the basis of how PlatinumCare + grounds itself.
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