One of the most important parts of effective senior care for an elderly family member is to also make sure that they are getting proper medical care. There are many medical issues that are far more common in the elderly than in the younger population, and because of advanced age, these medical problems often can result in life threatening conditions.
One example was revealed in a recent study conducted by the European Society of Cardiology. They found that elderly individuals that are hospitalized with pneumonia or sepsis are six times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease within a year of their population that other people of the same age. From two to three years after the hospitalization, the risk of cardiovascular disease is doubled, and an increased risk persists for up to five years after the hospitalization.
It has been well known that infections and other health issues are closely associated with cardiovascular disease for many years. Why and for how long are less clear, though. This new study was an attempt to try and bridge that gap. While there’s still a lot to learn, the association is much better understood now.
Just why this occurs is still unclear, but it does make a very good case for preventative measures, especially in the elderly. However, this is also the demographic that is most likely to have difficulty getting into doctors’ appointments for regular checkups because of limited mobility.
Luckily, this is something that you, a friend or family member, or a caregiver can assist with. It is why it is so important that if you hire a professional in-home care service to help look after your mom or dad that they are able to provide transportation to and from doctors’ appointments and will help with the pickup of prescription medications. The best caregivers should feel comfortable with transportation arrangements, but this is an area that’s often overlooked during the care selection process. When selecting a caregiver for an elderly parent, be sure that this is something that you stress as being important to you. Some services provide transportation, but charge extra for it. Be sure that you are well aware of the service’s policy regarding transportation for medical reasons, and know how it will impact the cost of care.
Choosing the right senior care for your parent is important. Ideally, senior care should be integrated in with medical care as completely as possible so that health issues, medications, and any other needs that might exist are all taken into account. If you are thinking of finding care for an older loved one, be sure that whichever service you decide to go with is capable of including all of these factors in. When done correctly, senior care should act as a way to ensure that your parent is healthy, happy, and well cared for. But to get to that point, there are many things that need to be considered. Spend some time ensuring that whoever you go with is able to meet all of your mom or dad’s needs.
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