What Chronic Health Issues Benefit From 24-Hour Home Care Services?
You’ve been looking into 24-hour home care services for your mom for a few months now. She has health issues, but you’re not sure around-the-clock care is ideal. How can 24-hour home care help with the most common chronic health issues?
High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is usually referred to as high blood pressure. It affects 58% of older adults. When your mom has high blood pressure, she’s going to need to exercise as often as her doctor recommends. She needs to take medications that are prescribed, shed extra pounds, and follow a low-sodium diet.
Much of this is easily managed by your mom, and she’s not likely to need 24-hour care. But, what if she lives alone and has gotten dizzy and passed out several times? It’s time to reconsider the benefits of around-the-clock care.
With around-the-clock caregivers by her side, your mom has someone with her all day and night. If she falls, she’s not alone and has someone there to help her up or to call paramedics if she’s injured.
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is another common chronic care condition and affects 47% of the population. Your mom’s doctor will ask her to change her diet, possibly lose weight, and get more exercise. It’s not likely that she’ll need home care to help with high cholesterol, unless she has a heart attack, stroke, or has had arterial blockages in the past.
If she’s at a high risk of other health issues like stroke and heart attack, having a caregiver around is important. She won’t be alone and unable to get help if something happens.
Arthritis
Arthritis is extremely common with 31% of adults experiencing joint pain. For some, the pain is extremely debilitating. It can make it impossible to get in and out of a shower, walk up and down the stairs, or drive a car.
When your mom’s joint pain is severe, she may need to take pain medications that impact her balance and make it unsafe for her to drive or go downstairs to do the laundry. Hire 24-hour home care to ensure she has a caregiver there when she needs a ride to her doctor’s office, has to change sheets and do the laundry, and when taking a shower.
Heart Disease
Around three out of ten people 65 or older have heart disease. This is one area where around-the-clock care should be considered for your mom. She may need surgery, and she’ll take medications that make her feel lightheaded. Make sure your mom has someone with her at all hours.
Diabetes
The number of diabetes cases keeps increasing and is at 27%. Your mom’s doctor may have her taking medications, checking her blood sugar levels multiple times a day, getting plenty of exercise, and eating a sugar-free balanced diet. To do all of this, she needs someone to remind her and help her prepare appropriate meals and snacks. Help reading labels in a grocery store is also beneficial.
When would around-the-clock care help your mom with diabetes? If your mom’s sugar levels have plummeted during the night or during the day, have someone there to support her and alert doctors if she’s passing out.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering 24-Hour Home Care in Natomas, CA please contact the caring staff at Aging Assistant today. (916) 897-4752
Sources:
https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-top-10-most-common-chronic-conditions-in-older-adults