One of the most important aspects of family caregiver awareness is being able to recognize warning signs for serious health issues, such as heart failure. Being aware of these warning signs, particularly if your older adult has specific risk factors for the condition, lets you closely monitor your senior’s health and identify changes and issues that could indicate they need medical attention.

Some of the warning signs for heart failure include:

• Breathlessness or shortness of breath. When this occurs when your senior is sleeping, it can wake them up. Most often, this shortness of breath is related to activity, but it can also come about when your senior is lying down
• Persistent wheezing or coughing, especially if it is accompanied by mucus that is pink or tinged red. This is caused by a buildup of fluid in the lungs as the body is unable to pump blood through and waste products out
• Fatigue or an overwhelming sense of tiredness when performing basic daily tasks such as shopping or cleaning the house
• Lack of appetite or not being able to eat enough. Your parent may also complain of feelings of nausea when they have these symptoms
• Feelings of confusion, impaired thinking, or disorientation
• The feeling of the heart racing or throbbing

Especially if you’re senior has risk factors for heart failure such as diabetes, high blood pressure, history of heart attack, is obese, lives a sedentary lifestyle, or has otherwise damaged their heart muscle, and they are experiencing these warning signs, do not hesitate to get in touch with their doctor. This doctor can evaluate your senior and determine if these warning signs indicate heart failure, or if your senior’s simply at higher risk for developing the condition. They can then devise a course of management and treatment that is right for your parent to help them keep their heart as healthy as possible as they age in place.

The customized nature of elder care is one of the reasons why this type of care can be so beneficial for your older loved one. Every is senior is an individual, and the old adage of one-size-fits-all does not apply to their care. An elderly home care services provider can approach your older parent as a unique, multifaceted person, which enables them to not only help your parent stay safe and healthy, but also encourage independence, meaning, and fulfillment as they age in place. As a family caregiver, you can feel confident your parent is going to get exactly what they need, when they need it, knowing they are in good hands both when you are with them and when you are not.

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Elder Care in Redington Beach, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.