Smoking is linked to cancer, emphysema, heart conditions, and dementia, and it can be difficult to break a lifelong addiction to tobacco. The following strategies can make it a little easier for seniors to give up smoking.
1. Point Out the Risks
Seniors need to be motivated if they’re going to give up smoking, but just the risk of cancer alone may not be enough to make them quit cigarettes. You may want to highlight that smoking also increases the risk of infection and heart disorders and greatly lengthens the amount of time it takes to heal from surgery.
Giving up smoking is just one of the many ways older adults can boost their health. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional home care service. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Suggest Decreasing Nicotine Intake Gradually
Going “cold turkey” might be the quickest way to stop smoking, but many seniors find it almost impossible to do. All the stress could put your loved one in a gloomy and irritable mindset that makes it much more difficult to stop. Many seniors find it easier to gradually cut back on smoking instead of stopping it instantly.
3. Identify Smoking Triggers
Smoking might seem like a physical activity, but it’s often closely related to emotional and mental wellbeing. Things like communicating with a stressful family member, visiting a preferred smoking spot, or having a lot of physical pain might make your loved one want to smoke. Try to identify these triggers so you can help your loved one avoid being in situations that trigger the desire to smoke.
4. Provide Ways to Satisfy the Desire to Fidget
Many smokers report that they cannot stop smoking because they want something to do with either their mouth or fingers. If your loved one has a desire to fidget, try to find other ways to fulfill it besides smoking. Many seniors enjoy chewing gum or snacking on something small like nuts whenever they want to smoke. It may also be helpful to give your loved one a fidget spinner or other toy to play with if he or she expresses a desire to hold a cigarette.
Quitting smoking is a huge step toward maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. Auburn families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
5. Encourage New Hobbies
Keeping your loved one distracted may help him or her quit tobacco. Your loved one can try a hobby like gardening, dancing, crocheting, or doing puzzles. Anything that keeps your loved one busy and takes his or her mind off smoking can reduce cravings for cigarettes.
6. Don’t Let Mistakes Halt Progress
Many seniors have a habit of giving up on their goal to quit smoking as soon as they make one mistake. Try to encourage your loved one to take it one day at a time. Even if your loved one smokes one day, he or she doesn’t have to give up and smoke the next day.
From managing basic tasks to making healthy lifestyle choices, older adults may need help with an array of tasks. Whether your elderly loved one needs part-time assistance with basic household chores or you need a break from your caregiving duties, the Auburn respite care experts at Home Care Assistance are here to help. All of our respite care services are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts. Contact one of our experienced Care Managers today at (334) 744-7100 to learn more about our reliable in-home care services.