Whether it’s the slow onset of senility or a sudden disabling stroke, end-of-life health issues often pose a unique set of challenges for caregivers. Significant changes, such as adding or removing furnishings or bringing bulky medical equipment into a bedroom, change the layout and atmosphere of your home. Then there are the emotional issues, which may be quite unsettling.
Here’s a quick rundown on four of the most common serious health challenges you may face when providing in-home care for an incapacitated family member. Arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) strokes and senility are all common late-life conditions in the U.S.
- Arthritis is not just one disease, but many. The most common one is degenerative arthritis. The long-term pain associated with arthritic diseases often exerts a demoralizing effect on the sufferer. For the homecare provider, a short training course in how to care for the person’s joints is advisable for two reasons. First, retaining as much movement as possible for as long as possible is a big factor in preserving mobility. That’s why an exercise regime done under a doctor’s care is essential. Strengthening the patient’s muscles through regular exercise may also prevent a catastrophic fall or cushion one should a mishap occur.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) does not cause the often severe joint and tissue pain that results from degenerative arthritis. Even so, this condition may impose significant distress on your loved one. There is nothing more vital to life than respiration. A fight to take each breath exacts a psychological toll on both the care provider and the suffering patient. Life is literally a minute-by-minute struggle. When caring for someone with this condition, you also may have to handle an element that is highly flammable: oxygen. Be sure you have received training in how to administer oxygen therapy so you can manage it safely in your home.
- Act quickly if you suspect a stroke. Strokes rarely afflict the young. These life-changing events typically occur late in a person’s life. When caring for a family member with heart disease or a history of strokes, be on the alert for these signs. Minutes and even seconds count, so don’t delay in summoning emergency help.
- The issue of senility is top of mind for most Americans when conversations turn to end-of-life issues. Yet just like arthritis, senility is a catchall description for several diseases that impede the brain’s ability to function. It is imperative a physician evaluate your loved one to determine what may be causing lapses in memory. It is possible that it’s not Alzheimer’s. It could be undiagnosed diabetes, or another less common disease. A vitamin B1 deficiency, although rare, may occur due to an undiagnosed vitamin B1 absorption problem. While this condition, known as Beriberi, is rare in the general population, it is easily prevented through vitamin therapy.