If your elderly parent needs assistance for his or her activities of daily living, then hiring home health aides may be an option. Whether the home health aide comes and goes, or you hire live-in home health aides, there are a few things you will need to discuss with him or her about your parent's medical condition. Here are three important things to discuss with your loved one's home health aides and why it is so important to do so.
1. Fluid Restriction
Your parent's home health aides will need to know if your loved one's doctor has recommended that he or she be on a fluid restricted diet. This may be necessary to avoid fluid overload in people with congestive heart failure or other medical conditions that interfere with the heart's pumping ability.
Excessive fluid intake in those with the aforementioned health conditions can lead to breathing problems, swelling, fluid in the abdomen, and cardiac arrhythmia. Also, remind the health aides to avoid giving your parent foods high in sodium content because it may promote excessive thirst.
2. Sundowning
Elderly people, especially those with cognitive deficits, sometimes experience a condition known as sundowning. As the name implies, the person affected with this condition may get confused or disoriented when the sun goes down. They seem to be lucid and aware during the daytime hours, however, at dusk, they may become agitated and fearful.
The more the health aide knows about your parent's history of sundowning or other behaviors, the better prepared he or she will be to recognize and manage the psychological needs of your loved one. It is important to note that people who experience sundowning should not be left alone because they may have the propensity to wander away from home.
3. Allergies
Another important matter to discuss with the home health aide is your parent's history of allergies. This not only pertains to food allergies such as those associated with nuts, soy, dairy products, or gluten but also allergies to over-the-counter medications such as aspirin.
If your parent has life-threatening allergies that may cause an anaphylactic reaction, let the caregiver know if the individual requires an injection of Epinephrine, which will help prevent airway obstruction, wheezing, and throat constriction. While it's wise to discuss your parent's history of allergies with the caregiver, it is best to remove all the items that your parent is allergic to from the home so that he or she does not accidentally get ahold of them.
If your parent is unable to care for him or herself, contact a healthcare agency to find out more about their services. Your loved one will feel more secure with a home health aide, and you will feel better about having a qualified caregiver assisting your parent.
Share30 September 2018
When my grandparents were both diagnosed with cancer due to radon in their home, I knew that we were going to be spending a lot of time helping them out. We started focusing on different ways to help them out, but it was really challenging to find the time to care for them. We realized that we needed help, so we started looking for home health care businesses who could come out to help. We found an excellent company who could help, and they were amazing to work with. They made our grandparents feel comfortable and happy each day, and it meant the world to us. Check out this blog for great information on home health care.
