As a family caregiver for your aging parents, one of the most important tools that you will have and use is awareness. Being as aware as possible of the risk of your parent faces and what they could mean to their health and well-being as they age in place allows you to modify their care routine to ensure that they are getting everything that they need to be as healthy and independent as possible throughout their later years.
Home Care in Sacramento CA: Deep Vein Thrombosis
One risk that is very important to discuss is DVT or deep vein thrombosis. Characterized by a blood clot that forms in a deep vein of the body, generally, in the leg, this condition can be very serious and even life-threatening. Talking to your parent’s doctor about DVT can help you to understand this condition better and be more aware of how it relates to your senior and their health. It is particularly true after they have already suffered a clot so that you should make more efforts to reduce the risk of another.
Some questions that you should ask your parents doctor about DVT include:
- What is DVT and how does it happen?
- What particular risk does the senior have of suffering it?
- What risk-factors cannot be influenced?
- Are there risk factors that your parents can influence or change?
- What may have caused you are senior to suffer a DVT?
- Is the risk of suffering a second DVT higher than a first?
- What are the long-term health risks of blood clots?
- What can be done to prevent these long-term risks?
- What are your senior’s risk of suffering post-thrombotic syndrome?
- What are the symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome?
- What can be done to help a senior who is dealing with the effects of post-thrombotic syndrome?
- What is a pulmonary embolism?
- What is your senior’s risk of suffering pulmonary embolism?
- What can help reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism?
- What changes should be made to your seniors care routines, such as starting home care, to help reduce the risk of a future DVT or pulmonary embolism?
- If your parent is preparing it for surgery or another issue that might lead to a stretch of immobility, how can you take steps to reduce the risk of a blood clot during this time?
How can senior care help?
If your aging parent has recently been diagnosed with a new health challenge or other issues, their needs have increased to the point that you are no longer able to handle them effectively, your schedule has changed and you are no longer able to be with them as much as you need, or you simply feel that they would benefit from more diversified care, now may be the ideal time for you to start home care for them.
An in-home senior care services provider can be there for your parent when it is best for them and their needs, as well as the amount of care that you give them. This means that they can pursue a lifestyle that is as active, engaged, independent, and fulfilling as possible as they age in place. For you, knowing that they have access to this care can ease your stress and help you to feel more confident about your parent’s health and well-being throughout their later years.