What are the most common chronic health issues in the U.S.? How will senior home care help with each of them?
Alzheimer’s disease affects more than six million Americans. Over time, the brain deteriorates and makes it impossible to take care of yourself. Your mom will eventually need help with showering, dressing, and even feeding herself. In the early stages, she’ll need someone to do the driving and help her with meal preparation and medication reminders.
Depending on the type of cancer, the treatment options will vary and usually include surgery and possible chemo, radiation, or targeted drug therapy. During these treatments, your mom may not feel great. Her energy will diminish, which makes it hard for her to clean her home, cook meals, and even shower without having some support.
With chronic kidney disease, your mom needs a low-sodium diet, plus she’ll take medications each day. She’s also going to need someone to drive her to dialysis treatments if she reaches a point where her kidneys are not filtering her blood well enough on their own.
Chronic lung disease often impacts smokers and people who worked with a lot of chemicals or in factories that had fumes from melted plastics, metals, etc. In addition to a range of appointments where transportation services are necessary, your mom may need someone to be around for emotional support.
Almost half of all Americans have high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease. If your mom has heart disease, she’ll need to take medications each day and may need medication reminders. She also needs to get enough exercise and do the housework without overexertion.
When your mom has heart disease, she may not be allowed to drive. She’ll need someone to bring her shopping and drive her to appointments.
Strokes can be linked to a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, family history, gender, age, and race. A large percentage of people who have strokes end up with mobility issues and require a walker, cane, or wheelchair for the rest of their lives.
If your mom has a stroke, she’s going to work with speech, occupational, and physical therapists. She’s going to need help doing the laundry, housework, and meal preparation. She’s going to need someone to drive her to appointments, take out the trash and recycling, and offer medication reminders.
Senior home care services can help your mom manage everything from medications to home organization. Learn more by talking to a senior home care specialist.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/chronic-diseases.htm
https://chronicdisease.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/FS_ChronicDiseaseCommentary2022FINAL.pdf
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Centennial, CO, contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts At Home Denver Metro today. Call 303-625-7557
Touching Hearts At Home Denver Metro is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Aurora, Parker, Centennial, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, Castle Rock, Glendale, and the surrounding areas.
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