How to Ease a Senior’s Headache

Everyone gets a headache from time to time, including older adults. They can range from being an uncomfortable nuisance to being debilitatingly painful. When your aging relative is complaining of a headache, it may be tempting to reach for over-the-counter medications. However, that might not be the best course of action since some non-prescription medicines can interfere with the prescription medications they are taking for other conditions. Fortunately, there are some other ways you can help your aging relative to get rid of headache pain without using medications, such as the suggestions described below.

Drink a Tall Glass of Water

Elderly Care Mooresville, NC: How to Ease a Senior’s Headache

Dehydration is a common cause of headache. It can cause tension headaches or migraines. Drinking a large glass of water can help to restore the body’s fluid levels. If dehydration is the cause of the older adult’s headache, they should start to feel better soon.

Elderly care providers can help seniors to ease headaches caused by dehydration by offering them a glass of water and making sure they drink it. Elderly care providers can also help to prevent future dehydration headaches by encouraging the senior to drink more liquids throughout the day and offering foods with a high liquid content.

Use Heat or Cold

A cold pack can help to ease the pain of a migraine. Place the cold pack on the older adult’s forehead for about 15 minutes, then take a 15-minute break before applying it again. Remember to wrap the cold pack in a towel rather than applying it directly to the skin to prevent tissue damage.

When the older adult has a tension headache, use heat to relax muscles. Place the heating pad or hot pack on the back of the neck or head. If the headache is caused by sinus pain, apply the heat to the location of the pain.

An elderly care provider can prepare a hot or cold pack and assist with applying it to the older adult’s head or neck.

Massage

Gently massaging the neck, temples, and shoulders can relieve a tension headache. The older adult can do this on their own, but many people find it feels better to have someone else do it for them.

An elderly care provider can offer a gentle massage to relax muscles and relieve tension headaches.

Caffeine

Having a beverage with some caffeine in it can take away headache pain if the older adult has it soon after the headache starts. However, be careful about using caffeine too close to bedtime as it may cause sleeplessness.

An elderly care provider can prepare a cup of tea or coffee for the older adult to drink in hopes of getting rid of a headache.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care in Mooresville, NC, contact the caring professionals at TenderHearted Home Care today. Call us at (704) 207-0265.

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/headache-remedies

https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/5-ways-to-get-rid-of-headache#1

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323992.php