Tobacco products are associated with many types of cancer. Compared to nonsmokers, seniors who smoke are twice as likely to get pancreatic cancer. Once a senior quits smoking, his or her risk of cancer begins to decrease. If your loved one hasn’t smoked in the past 10 years or more, his or her risk of pancreatic cancer equals that of a senior who has never smoked.
Stop Drinking
A combination of drinking and smoking doubles the risk of developing pancreatic cancer, especially for seniors who have more than two alcoholic beverages per day. Your loved one should only have one glass of wine per day or quit drinking alcohol completely to reduce the risk of cancer.
Start Exercising
Obesity is another risk factor for pancreatic cancer that’s within a senior’s control. If your loved one doesn’t currently have a workout regimen, you need to work with a doctor to develop a tailored exercise plan for your loved one. Ideally, these workouts should involve a partner to keep your parent’s motivation high.
If your loved one needs help adopting healthier lifestyle habits to stave off cancer and other serious conditions, a home caregiver can be a wonderful asset. If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Amarillo, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Home Care Assistance, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.
Eat a Healthy Diet
A proper diet helps seniors manage their weight, and it can also keep different types of cancers at bay. A diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables helps the body repair and replace damaged cells. While no specific food has been associated with preventing pancreatic cancer, seniors should focus on eating healthy diets to lower their risk of cancer in general.
Home caregivers can help seniors maintain optimal health and prevent a variety of illnesses. Senior home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Reduce Red Meat Consumptio
nCurrent research indicates eating red meat regularly may slightly increase a senior’s risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Meat cooked at high temperatures may also raise the risk of cancer. Choose white meat such as chicken or fish as often as possible for your loved one’s meals, and limit grilled red meats to no more than one serving per week.
Increase Vitamin D Intake
Many seniors are deficient in vitamin D, which puts them at risk for numerous health problems, including pancreatic cancer. Seniors can absorb the vitamin naturally by spending time in the sun or by incorporating vitamin D-rich foods into their diets, including salmon, cheese, eggs, fortified milk, spinach, and kale.
See a Doctor Regularly
Pancreatic cancer is known as the “silent cancer” because its symptoms often go unnoticed until the disease spreads throughout the body. For this reason, seniors need to attend regular doctor appointments to identify early signs of the disease. These appointments allow doctors to check for risk factors and provide advice regarding the best methods for cancer prevention.
Making healthy lifestyle changes is a great first step in preventing cancer and many other serious health conditions. If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of Amarillo homecare services. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. If you need professional home care for your loved one, reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (806) 803-9991.