As your loved one ages, there are certain things they should avoid, but it can be really hard to do. There are pros and cons to drinking caffeine when you become a senior, and for some individuals, it may be best to limit the amount of caffeine. If your senior needs help to limit the amount of caffeine they consume because they forget how much they’ve had or forget when they had a cup of coffee, your family may want to consider 24-hour home care to help a senior out around the house.
While a few cups of coffee per day may benefit health, energy, and mood, drinking too much can interfere with sleep, hydration, and pre-existing health conditions. While the elderly should continue to enjoy their daily brew, moderation is required to avoid unneeded negative side effects. Do you know how much coffee your elderly parents consume? Caffeine has a number of negative effects on seniors.
The Advantages of Drinking Coffee (Pros)
24-Hour Home Care Los Angeles, CA: Drinking Coffee
Many coffee drinkers enjoy that first cup of coffee in the morning, which jolts the body into increased alertness. Coffee, in small doses, can reduce the risk of chronic conditions like Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, and depression, in addition to improving cognitive functions.
Coffee and Health, known for scientific information on coffee, cites research indicating that drinking 3 – 4 cups of coffee daily – without sugar or cream – can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 25%. The organization also publishes research indicating that coffee consumption reduces or delays the onset of Parkinson’s disease. According to the American Parkinson Disease Association, the caffeine and Eiconsanoyl-5-hydroxtrypatmide components of coffee work together to prevent biochemical changes associated with Parkinson’s Disease.
According to the findings of a Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia study, people who started drinking 3-5 cups daily in their forties reduced their risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease by about 65 percent later in life. The benefits are linked to the dark roast rather than the caffeine in the coffee. Caffeine is being studied to see if it can protect against dementia.
The Disadvantages of Drinking Coffee as a Senior (Cons)
Small doses of coffee may be fine for seniors to consume and even help in certain cases. However, if seniors have the tendency to forget things, even with the help of 24-hour home care, they may not remember how much caffeine they have consumed. This can be dangerous for them or cause other health problems that are not healthy.
Seniors who drink too much caffeine may get anxious, experience headaches, feel restless, or get the jitters from an overstimulated nervous system response. These are all side effects that seniors may find very uncomfortable.
On top of all of that, it can lead to reduced hours of sleep. When a senior drinks a lot of coffee they may not be able to settle down and relax at night. It can cause them to stay awake longer than they should and mess up their sleep cycles. Too much coffee can cause dehydration and a spike in blood pressure.
If a senior wants to consume coffee, ensure they are keeping track of the amount they drink. If they cannot do this, ensure they have someone else who can watch over them.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering 24-Hour Home Care in Los Angeles, CA please contact the caring staff at Nu Care Inc. today at. 800-505-6890
Sources:
https://www.parkinson.org/blog/science-news/coffee-and-parkinsons-protection-in-the-making
https://www.coffeeandhealth.org/topic-overview/coffee-and-parkinsons-disease/