Consistency and following doctor’s orders is key when it comes to taking heart medications.
If you have heart disease, you know it is essential to take your heart disease medicine just as prescribed. But what exactly does that mean? Here are several helpful tips to manage heart medications safely: Read more
When an elderly relative suffers from tremendous back pain, their doctor often recommends spine surgery. It is most often done for those who have herniated disks or bone spurs on the spine. The good news is that back surgery often relieves the conditions that cause the chronic pain. However, the recovery time for spine surgery can make it a real challenge for elderly adults to live on their own and take care of themselves.
Family caregivers can do a lot for their elderly relative during the spine injury recovery time, but they can’t always be there all day and all night. To ensure the aging loved one is well-cared for as they heal from spine surgery, many family caregivers hire home care providers to assist.
Here are some of the reasons why spine injury recovery often requires an in-home care provider.
Medication Reminders
Pain is a big part of any recovery from surgery, and seniors will need some painkillers along with their regular medication. However, it can be difficult to remember when to take the medications and how much. While a home care provider cannot administer the medication, they can give reminders, read bottle labels and provide water. Staying on top of the pain via prescribed medicine will certainly aid in recovery.
Avoid Blood Clots
One of the biggest dangers post-surgery is if seniors develop blood clots. They need to get up and walk around frequently, turn and shift their weight often and do stretches and exercises as needed to keep their circulation going. Home care providers can encourage movement, support the elderly adult in getting around, and report any problems to family members.
Self-Care Help
With spine surgery, the aging adult won’t be able to bend, twist or even lean over for many weeks. This makes it very hard to bathe, shower, get dressed, use the toilet and more. A home care provider can be there to help, and also suggest adaptive tools that can make things easier, like a shower chair and raised toilet.
Housekeeping
Even if the elderly person did well on their own before the surgery, they won’t be able to do much in the weeks following. Home care providers can pitch in and give additional support at home, like cooking, cleaning, laundry, pet care, and even grocery shopping.
Transportation
Seniors recovering from spine surgery can’t drive under doctor’s orders, yet they still need to get around. Home care providers can drive the elderly person to their follow-up appointments, to visit with friends or to run an errand or two.
It doesn’t matter what type of spine surgery the elderly adult had, recovery can last anywhere from two to six months. During this time, the aging adult really needs to have a helping hand for their needs. If seniors are cared for by a dedicated professional that can help them maximize their recovery time, they’ll be more comfortable, safe, and well.
Approximately 48 million people throughout the United States experience a foodborne illness or infection each year. Of these, around 128,000 will require hospitalization, and 3,000 will die as a result of their illness or infection.
As a family caregiver, it is extremely important to recognize that elderly adults are more vulnerable to foodborne illness and infection, also referred to as food poisoning, than younger adults, and are more likely to experience severe consequences as a result of such illnesses and infections. Being able to detect the potential signs and symptoms of such an infection can allow you to act quickly, get your senior the medical care they need, and help them through healing and recovery.
Some of the signs and symptoms of foodborne infection include:
These symptoms can occur within a relatively short period of time of consuming contaminated food, but can also appear days after. While most of the time these illnesses or infections are mild and will resolve themselves, they can quickly become severe.
Contact your senior’s doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms related to a foodborne infection or illness:
Depending on the virus, bacteria, or pathogen that has led to the illness or infection, the symptoms can occur anywhere between 30 minutes and a month after consumption of the contaminated food. If your parent begins experiencing these symptoms, and you cannot relate them to another illness, think back through what your parent has eaten in the preceding several days. If they have eaten at a restaurant recently, it is important to contact that restaurant after your parent’s diagnosis to inform them for reporting purposes.
Getting proper nutrition is one of the most important elements of your senior maintaining health as they age in place. Elderly care can be extremely beneficial when it comes to helping your senior get the nutrition they need on a regular basis.
An elderly home care services provider can provide safe and reliable transportation to the grocery store to stock their home with healthy options, provide reminders of dietary restrictions and instructions from their doctor, assist with meal and snack preparation, and encourage your senior to get enough hydration on a regular basis. This can not only help your parent to maintain better health, but also to support mental and emotional well-being, and quality of life.
Source:
Fsis.usda.gov
Cdc.gov
When was the last time your aging relative had an eye exam?
If you’re not sure or if it has been a while, there are plenty of good reasons you should schedule an appointment soon. In fact, since August is National Eye Exam Month, this is the perfect time to focus (pun intended!) on good vision health for your older family member. Older adults are at higher risk for developing several eye problems. Below are some of the common ones—all of which are good reasons for your aging relative to have their eyes checked.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD affects the retina, which is an area at the back of the eye. Specifically, it affects the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for clear central vision. In addition, the macula allows people to see colors vividly and fine details. Without good central vision, your aging relative may be unable to read, drive, or recognize faces.
Dry Eye
Sometimes the tear glands fail to make enough tears or don’t produce good quality tears. This can cause the eyes to burn, turn red, and feel itchy. If dry eye isn’t treated, it can result in vision loss.
Cataracts
Usually, the lens of the eye is clear and it will allow adequate light to come in. When a person gets cataracts, the lens becomes cloudy. Cataracts aren’t painful, but they can cause vision loss. Cataracts can make your aging relative’s vision blurry or cause colors to seem duller than usual.
Problems with Eyelids
Sometimes older adults have problems with their eyelids, such as drooping or twitching. Sometimes eyelids get inflamed, too. Eyelid problems can cause the eyes to tear, itch, or hurt. These problems are often treated with medications or surgery.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma affects the optic nerve. Usually, it is linked to pressure in the eye. People with glaucoma may lose their peripheral, or side vision. Glaucoma can also lead to blindness.
Elder care can assist your aging relative to get to their eye appointment by driving them there. If the older adult suffers from low vision, there are many ways an elder care provider can help them to stay safe and have a better quality of life. Elder care providers can monitor older adults while they take their medications, ensuring they take the correct ones and in the proper dosages. Elder care providers can walk with your aging relative to make sure they do not fall and injure themselves. And, elder care providers can assist with things that require good vision, like reading, paying bills, and cooking.
Sources:
Aoa.org
Nih.gov
Webmd.com
