November 27, 2019
Falling Risk
Since opioids will cause depression of the central nervous system, anyone who is taking them will have an increased risk of falling. When it comes to the elderly, who are already weaker, their risk of falling increases even more. Senior citizens need to take even more precautions when they are moving around after taking an opioid. You might want to hire an elder care provider to help your loved one get around if they are taking opioids.
Increased Confusion
Opioids, for many people, can lead to confusion. Many senior citizens already get confused from time to time. Adding medication to the mix that adds to the confusion can make things much worse. The medications can make them feel groggy and drowsy, which also clouds their judgment. It is important to make sure the senior citizen that is taking opioids doesn’t make any major decisions when they are taking the medications.
Constipation Issues
Opioids have a negative impact on one’s digestive tract. Many people, especially the elderly, that take opioids will experience issues with their bowel movements. For most of these people, they will have constipation. This can be quite painful. If your loved one is experiencing constipation, be sure they are getting enough fiber and drinking enough water to help move their bowel movements along. You might need to hire an elder care provider to have them make sure your loved one is doing these things.
Abuse or Addiction
It is possible for senior citizens to become addicted to opioids. There are many elderly adults who are addicted to these medications. They may abuse them, as well. It is important to make sure your elderly loved one is always taking their opioids as prescribed. They should never take more than what they have been prescribed. If they don’t use all of their medications when they are supposed to, they should safely dispose of them. You or an elder care provider can help them to do this if needed.
It is important to know all of this information about opioids and the elderly. There are many dangers of taking opioids, as you have read about here today. If you are caring for an elderly loved one, these are some of the things you need to pay attention to if they are taking opioids. If they begin to have issues with abuse or addiction, talk to their doctor immediately.
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