Despite its hot summer months, winter in Arizona can still be cold. If you are a senior living with chronic pain, the winter weather can significantly impact your pain levels and overall health and well-being.
Whether you live at home or in long-term care like an assisted living facility, it’s important to know how to manage your chronic pain so you can be at ease and continue to enjoy the activities you love. Today, we’ll take a look at some necessary winter health tips for seniors who are living at home or in a nursing facility, skilled nursing facility, or assisted living facility. Employ these senior pain management tips and take control of your chronic pain.
Is assisted living right for your loved one? Contact Haven Health to learn more.
What Are the Common Challenges Seniors Face With Chronic Pain During Arizona Winters?
Seniors living with chronic pain may experience a range of challenges, especially during Arizona winters. The changing weather brings about colder temperatures that can impact a wide range of health conditions. Additionally, the colder temperatures mean less time spent outdoors, which can significantly limit one’s ability to incorporate much-needed physical activity into one’s regular routine.
Some common challenges that seniors face during the winter when living with chronic pain include:
- Increased stiffness in muscles and joints
- Exasperation of health conditions, including fibromyalgia or arthritis
- Increased pain because of inactivity due to colder weather
- Psychological challenges including seasonal affective disorder (SAD) due to limited exposure to sunshine
How Does the Cold Weather in Arizona Winters Affect Chronic Pain in Seniors?
Cold weather can significantly impact an individual experiencing chronic pain or having a chronic health condition. When temperatures drop, muscles and joints tend to tighten up as well. This exacerbates pre-existing chronic pain, leading to more tension, stiffness, and overall achiness in the muscles and joints. For many seniors, colder weather can trigger new symptoms or exasperate current ones.
Coupled with the inability to get outdoors and be physically active, many seniors don’t have an opportunity to stretch or move these muscles around as they normally would during the warmer months, leading to increased pain.
Assisted living facilities aim to reduce these issues by implementing physical activities into their regular schedules, especially during the winter months.
What Strategies Can Seniors Use To Manage Chronic Pain in Colder Months?
Despite colder temperatures settling in, there’s plenty that seniors can do to help combat the impact on their bodies. Some common strategies include:
- Dressing warm
- Stay moving
- Heat therapy
Exercises for Seniors To Alleviate Chronic Pain in Winter
Physical activities are one of the key elements to keeping your body in its best shape possible — even if you struggle with chronic pain. When an individual becomes immobile, that’s where chronic pain and additional health concerns get exasperated, creating more complications down the road.
Here are some simple exercises most seniors can do to help mitigate chronic pain during the wintertime:
- Chair yoga
- Water yoga and water aerobics
- Regular stretching and flexibility exercises
- Strength training using light weights or resistance bands
- Walking
- Low-impact sports like pickleball
What Indoor Activities Can Reduce Chronic Pain in Winter for Seniors?
It’s not just physical activities that can help alleviate chronic pain in seniors, but mental activities as well. During winter, when you’re confined indoors, this can be a great opportunity to work out your mental muscles. Some indoor activities that can help reduce your chronic pain in the winter include:
- Arts and crafts
- Engaging in hobbies like reading, knitting, or projects around the house
- Dancing
- Relaxation techniques that can help you manage your stress and pain
- Spending time with family and friends
How Can Diet and Nutrition Impact Chronic Pain Management for Seniors During Winter?
Diet and nutrition can also have a significant impact on the way you navigate chronic pain during the winter when flare-ups are most likely to happen.
All seniors should aim to have a well-balanced diet with foods rich in anti-inflammatory properties. These can include fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, fish, and herbal teas.
How Can Physical Therapy Help Manage Chronic Pain in Seniors During Arizona Winters?
Many seniors turn to physical therapy to help them combat the symptoms associated with their chronic pain. A physical therapist will work with you one-on-one to determine a care plan that best meets your needs. For some seniors, physical therapy can help with the following:
- Increase flexibility
- Strengthen muscles
- Increase mobility and movement
- Enhanced joint function
- Provide pain management techniques
- Provide overall education about your chronic pain during the winter
How Can Caregivers Assist Seniors in Managing Chronic Pain During the Colder Months?
Caregivers also play a critical role in helping seniors manage their chronic pain during winter. They provide both mental and physical support, along with education and strategy training.
- A caregiver will work with you to monitor your pain level so you have your finger on the pulse of your overall health
- They will help encourage activity by recommending certain types of physical activities and steer you away from others that may cause more harm than good
- They will assist with medication management
- They will provide support and encouragement
How Important Is It for Seniors To Stay Hydrated To Manage Chronic Pain in Colder Weather?
Despite the colder months setting in, seniors must stay hydrated even if they don’t feel all that thirsty. Hydration is critical for overall health and well-being, especially when navigating chronic pain. Adequate hydration serves as a type of lubrication for your joints and muscles, which can help reduce muscle and joint stiffness and pain.
Medications or Supplements That Can Help Treat Chronic Pain in Winter
Seniors who work with a primary care provider to manage their pain may be recommended medications and supplements to help alleviate the symptoms associated with their chronic pain.
For many seniors, a medication regimen that includes acetaminophen or ibuprofen can offer temporary relief from chronic pain. Physicians may also recommend health supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and other anti-inflammatory supplements that should be incorporated into your diet.
You should always consult with your primary care provider before you begin any medications to alleviate chronic pain symptoms.
Turn to the Team at Haven Health
A senior pain management plan does not have to be inaccessible or complex. If you seek comprehensive care, working with a specialist or primary care provider is a good place to start.
If your loved one is in an assisted living facility and is looking for winter pain relief in Arizona, speak with your loved one’s care team to explore chronic pain management plans during winter. To learn more about quality long- or short-term care in Arizona, turn to the team at Haven Health.
Contact Haven Health to learn more.
Sources:
Exploring the Link Between Chronic Pain and Mental Health in Older Adults. (2024).
14 Foods to Reduce Joint Pain. (2017).
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). (2024).