As many people age, they, unfortunately, begin to experience certain common health issues in the elderly such as some of the most top health concerns for older adults like heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses in older adults. This can be difficult for aging adults, however, dealing with common health problems in elderly individuals can be made easier with the help of quality in-home care.
Understanding the Unique Health Challenges of Aging
There are many common elderly health issues that seniors face as they age including limited mobility and loss of strength, however, these issues are not limited to physical issues as old age problems can also affect an individual’s mental health as well.
As a younger person, it may be difficult to understand the health issues in the elderly individuals that your parents may be facing. It’s important to remember that they may not move as fast as they used to or remember things as well so it is essential that you keep in mind that home care helps elderly individuals with highly trained caregivers.
Common Health Issues Faced by Seniors
There are many common conditions in elderly individuals that can make life more difficult for seniors to live their day to day lives. Some of the most common health issues in older adults include:
Chronic Conditions: Seniors may face many common chronic diseases in older adults such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and respiratory conditions such as seniors with COPD. These aging-related diseases can make it more difficult for individuals to live comfortably in their own homes without assistance and to do their daily tasks.
Cognitive Decline: Physical issues are not the only challenges faced by elderly individuals as cognitive decline is an unfortunate aspect of aging for many people. This cognitive decline can show itself in ways such as memory issues, behavioral changes, difficulty with reasoning and judgment, and being easily distracted. Managing dementia and Alzheimer’s can make managing cognitive decline even more difficult.
Mobility and Fall Risks: Difficulty with mobility and falls are common problems faced by elderly individuals. As an individual ages, they may suffer from muscle and bone loss, making it harder to walk and get around and contributing to a higher likelihood of having a fall. Support for seniors is essential to help them get around and minimize fall risks.
Depression and Social Isolation: The elderly and mental health go hand and hand and can result in issues such as depression and social isolation for a number of reasons. Cognitive decline and the inability to move around and do things that they once did can contribute to depression, while not getting out and mingling with their peers is a common issue for older individuals leading to elderly social isolation which in turn can make depression worse.
Nutritional Deficiencies and Malnutrition: Nutritional deficiencies are common conditions in elderly individuals due certain factors such as decreased appetite, some common medical conditions, and senior mobility challenges. Furthermore, dehydration in elderly individuals is also common for many of the same reasons. It is important to ensure that seniors are well-fed and drink plenty of fluids.
Vision and Hearing Loss: Vision and hearing loss are common aging health problems that many individuals face due a number of factors including natural age-related changes, medical conditions, noise exposure, and genetic factors. Seniors with vision or hearing loss can face issues getting around and doing their daily tasks.
How Professional Home Care Provides Comprehensive Support
Seniors can greatly be assisted with their health issues through the support of quality in home elderly care. In-home care assists seniors with their daily tasks while staying within the comfort of their own home. Some of the ways in-home care helps with senior citizen health issues include:
Personalized Care Plans for Chronic Illness Management: Elder care providers work with individuals to understand the senior health issues that an individual is facing so they can design a customized plan to fit the individual’s needs for chronic illness management. This could include managing chronic diseases in older adults such as elderly heart disease or helping seniors with arthritis with their mobility issues.
Assistance with Activities of Daily Living: Home care support plays an important role in assisting those with health problems in old age with their activities of daily living such as getting dressed, grooming, bathing, and meal preparation. This can help those individuals with common old age diseases be able to continue living in their home in a healthy way while maintaining their dignity and independence.
Medication Management and Appointment Reminders: Taking their medication and attending medical appointments is essential for individuals with health issues for older adults. As such, in-home care services assist with medication management and appointment reminders and transportation, so the ageing population and healthcare are in sync.
Companionship and Mental Health Support: There are many causes of social isolation in elderly individuals such as lack of mobility or loss of friends, however, compassionate home caregivers provide companionship to seniors by engaging them in conversation and doing activities with them such as playing games and cards. Furthermore, in-home senior support helps with older adults and mental health by monitoring their condition and keeping them engaged.
Meal Preparation and Nutritional Support: One of the key benefits of home care is meal preparation and nutritional support for seniors. In-home elderly care services provide for grocery shopping assistance and meal preparation in the home to keep seniors well-fed with nutritious meals that are in compliance with an individual’s dietary needs and preferences.
Fall Prevention and Home Safety Modifications: Home care services work with individuals to prevent falls through mobility assistance and home safety modification to make the home safer and easier to get around for a senior. This can be essential for home health care for stroke recovery and memory care at home care as these individuals are susceptible to falls and other injuries.
Signs Your Loved One May Need Home Care
There are many mental and physical problems of old age that may show signs that home care for aging parents is necessary including:
- Signs of elderly mental health issues such as memory loss, behavioral changes, and changes in physical hygiene.
- Mobility issues are common elderly problems that may manifest themselves as difficulty walking, getting in or out of chairs, or dealing with stairs. Elderly care for mobility issues can assist individuals with completing their daily tasks.
- Loss of interest in hobbies and increased social isolation can be a sign that seniors need assistance due to health problems of senior citizens that are either physical or mental.
- Increased medical visits are clear signs of senior health problems and these health problems elderly individuals face can be helped through home nursing care.
Choosing the Right Home Care Provider
Choosing a home care provider is an important decision and you need to determine if you need specialty care such as assisted living for mentally ill adults or care for the elderly with chronic conditions. New Beginnings Home Care Agency offers a wide range of elderly care plans to meet the needs of elderly individuals, so they stay safe, happy, and healthy in their own home. Contact our Philadelphia Home Care Agency today to find out more and set up a care plan consultation.