Restless Leg Syndrome Education and Awareness Week comes around every year. This year it falls from July 18th through the 25th. RLS involves uncontrolled movements or jumping in the legs when trying to rest. Some people even describe tingling or itching sensations in their legs. If your elderly family member experiences RLS, these techniques may be helpful for her.
Troubleshoot Sleep Hygiene Issues
Sleep hygiene is a big problem with a wide range of health issues, but it can also have an impact on RLS. Having a solid wind-down routine before bed can help considerably. Also, if your elderly family member gets into bed and experiences leg twitches and jumping, encourage her to get back up and to walk around a little. This can sometimes help to reduce RLS symptoms while also keeping your senior from lying there, unable to sleep.
Add a Soothing Bath to Your Senior’s Nighttime Routine
Caregivers in Gulfport FL
Some people with RLS find that soaking in a warm bath as part of their evening routine can help to alleviate RLS symptoms. Soaking with a little bit of lavender or other soothing scents can be part of what helps your senior’s brain to accept that it’s time for sleep and therefore ramp down for the night.
Consider Massage
Massaging the area that’s particularly jumpy can also help a bit. Using lotions and oils that contain ingredients like capsaicin or menthol may be particularly helpful. Massage increases blood flow to muscles and nerves and may help to calm overactive jumpiness. Regular massage sessions may be able to help as well.
Some People Find that Cold Works Better
RLS is complicated, though. Not everyone finds that heat works well for their particular restless leg symptoms. If that’s the case for your senior, consider trying ice packs or even a cool shower. This may be enough to calm the affected nerves and to keep them from jumping.
Increase Exercise During the Day
Your senior may find that increasing her activity levels during the day, as recommended by her doctor, can help her to work her muscles before RLS symptoms start. It doesn’t take a lot of exercise to help with RLS. Many people who find this effective do just a little bit of low impact exercise each day to help the muscles be able to relax later.
Some of these solutions are easier for your elderly family member to handle if she’s got the help of a caregiver. She may also need to experiment a little to find the right combination for her situation.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Caregivers in Gulfport, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
