Heart failure means the heart is no longer pumping blood through the body like it properly should. When this happens, seniors might experience health changes such as more fatigue and shortness of breath because the body’s cells aren’t able to get enough oxygen from the blood. They may also experience a buildup of fluids in the body along with cognitive symptoms such as confusion. These five tips can help you provide the best care for a senior loved one living with heart failure.
1. Monitor for Weight Gain
It can sometimes be difficult to tell if someone’s body is accumulating too many fluids. This is why you may need to check your loved one’s weight one to several times a day. If your loved one suddenly gains a large amount of weight compared to the day before, it’s likely to be related to fluid retention. Your loved one’s physician will let you know how much weight gain to watch out for so you can contact the doctor immediately.
2. Plan to Assist with Medication
Seniors with heart failure need to take their medication exactly as prescribed. However, those with advanced heart failure might experience confusion that makes it difficult for them to handle this on their own. They may also have difficulty distinguishing between medication side effects and their normal symptoms. Planning to help with medication management ensures they don’t miss vital doses that preserve their health.
3. Help Your Parent Make Essential Lifestyle Changes
A healthy lifestyle takes on a whole new meaning once someone develops a serious long-term health condition. Your loved one might have tried to watch his or her sodium intake in the past, but now it’s essential to limit salt to prevent more fluid retention. Your loved one’s physician will likely recommend limiting sodium in the diet along with other changes, such as watching fat intake. Adding more vegetables to the diet also helps the body get as many nutrients as it can from the blood the heart can still pump.
If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of home care service. Home Care Assistance provides professional in-home caregivers around the clock to help seniors live longer, happier, and healthier lives.
4. Provide Transportation to Medical Appointments
A person with heart failure will need to attend healthcare checkups more frequently. As your loved one’s condition advances, he or she may no longer be able to drive safely. Your parent may also begin to need assistance walking through the medical building once he or she begins to develop serious fatigue. Sending a caregiver along helps your loved one get to medical appointments safely so he or she never misses an opportunity to care for his or her health.
Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Oakville seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more.
5. Help Your Loved One Connect with Emotional Support
Many people with congestive heart failure find it difficult to accept the limitations that accompany this condition. Frustration is common as people begin to lose their abilities, and your loved one needs to know other people understand what he or she is going through. Support groups, professional counseling, and planning for more time with family and friends are all great ways to give your loved one the emotional support he or she needs to continue to feel mentally well.
A professional caregiver can be a wonderful source of support for your whole family. When researching agencies that provide elder care, Oakville, ON, families are usually looking for flexible care plans, compassionate and highly trained caregivers, and 24/7 availability. Whether you need respite care to take a break from your caregiving duties or your senior loved one needs around-the-clock assistance at home, you can rely on Home Care Assistance. To learn more about our reliable, compassionate in-home care services, contact us at (905) 337-1200 today.