Facts about Vitamin D Deficiency in Seniors and Anthem Senior Living in Phoenix

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When we talk about Vitamin D deficiency, we tend to think about children. As per a recent study, vitamin D deficiency leads to osteoporosis, muscle weakness, hip fractures, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis and poor general health in seniors. Before taking our discussion further, read to know more about assisted facilities:

If you have senior family members suffering from memory or mobility issues, they would require proper care and assistance at all given times which becomes difficult for family members to provide. Such type of care and support is only possible at assisted living facilities. Such facilities comprise well-trained and experienced caregivers who offer round the clock care to the residents. If you are a resident of the Phoenix region in AZ, you can put your loved one at the AHA certified Anthem Senior Living in Phoenix. It is an award-winning facility in the region. The levels of care offered includes long term care, elder care, dementia & memory care, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s care and respite care.

Sources of Vitamin D are:

1. Sunlight– Sunlight converts cholesterol to Vitamin D in the body. Sunlight is the most important source of vitamin D.
2. Food– The foods that contain Vitamin D naturally are cod liver oil, salmon, mackerel, tuna, beef liver, cheese and egg yolks.
3. It is difficult to get Vitamin D naturally with many foods having vitamin D added to them which supply most of the vitamin D in the American diet. Milk, breakfast cereals, etc. are commonly fortified with Vitamin D.

Risk for Seniors:

The risk of vitamin D deficiency is higher for people over the age of 50 which increases with age which can be attributed to the fact that aging causes loss of ability to synthesize vitamin D from sunlight. The activation of Vitamin D in the kidney prior to usage by the body decreases with age. Researchers recommend 30 minutes of sun exposure twice a week to make a sufficient amount of vitamin D from sunlight. Seniors are less likely to get outdoor exercise and activity which reduces their exposure to sunlight.

Vitamin D deficiency symptoms:

The symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency are so vague that it is easily overlooked or mistaken for something else.

1. Muscle fatigue and muscle weakness
2. Difficulty in concentrating
3. Excessive sweating
4. Swelling and pain in bones and joints
5. Exhaustion and weakness

Try and encourage your senior loved one to involve themselves in some form of an outdoor physical activity. Consult with your senior’s physician in this regard. The doctor will most probably order a simple blood test to determine about a possible deficiency. The physician will most likely recommend a prescription dosage and the amount depends on how deficient the older adult is.

Points for caregivers to remember:

A few vital things caregivers for older adults should know about vitamin D deficiency and supplements are

1. The risk for vitamin D deficiency is higher for older people who do not take vitamin D supplements.
2. Women are at higher risk than men. Again, seniors with darker complexions don’t produce vitamin D from sunlight as well as light-skinned seniors.
3. Medications that can interfere with vitamin D supplements include steroids, some weight-loss drugs, some cholesterol-lowering drugs and some drugs used to control seizures.
4. Things that should be taken in consideration when deciding on vitamin D supplements include an older adult’s sex, age, diet, sun exposure and medical history.

Book a suite at Phoenix’s Anthem Senior Living and give him the best experience.