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When it comes to quitting smoking, seniors need to be prepared to fight cravings, and staying busy is one of the best ways to avoid lighting up. Fortunately, distraction can be an effective tool in the effort to quit smoking, and here are a few ideas to help your elderly loved one stay focused on boosting his or her health.
1. Try a Creative Art
Keeping the hands busy is important when ending a smoking habit, and doing something creative can take your loved one’s mind off his or her cravings. Activities such as painting and sewing can help your loved one relax, and time flies when participating in something enjoyable. Once your loved one finds the right craft, he or she won’t want to stop the activity to go smoke.
2. Phone a Friend
One of the first things your loved one should do when quitting smoking is tell friends and family so they can provide support. Talking can ease your loved one’s anxiety and motivate him or her to keep working on ending the addiction. It’s also helpful to invite nonsmoking friends over to visit because having them around can make it uncomfortable to smoke.
A home caregiver can be a fantastic source of encouragement and support for a senior who’s trying to kick the smoking habit. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elder care. You can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
3. Indulge in Some Pampering
If your loved one is working hard at quitting smoking, suggest the reward of a pampering session. A manicure is a good idea because wet nails don’t go well with smoking. Alternatively, your loved one can enjoy a massage or a long bath at home. Doing something nice for the body sends a message to the brain that quitting smoking is rewarding.
4. Visit an Indoor Community Venue
Today, most public spaces don’t allow smoking, especially indoor venues. Encourage your loved one to go see a movie or walk through the mall. Being somewhere for a few hours where smoking isn’t allowed can curb your loved one’s cravings.
If your parent needs transportation to activities or a companion to enjoy hobbies with at home, a home caregiver can be a wonderful asset. For families living in Richmond, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
5. Do a Set of Exercises
The urge to smoke typically passes in only a few minutes, so your loved one should have a plan for when the cravings strike. Options include doing a few chair exercises or just walking around the house for a few minutes. Staying active allows the craving to pass, and your loved one can boost his or her health at the same time.
If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Assisting Hands Home Care Richmond, a leading provider of at-home care. Richmond Assisting Hands Home Care provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives. To learn about our quality-assured services, give us a call today.
