Learn About Blood Pressure in Older Adults

Posted in Blood Pressure, Senior Health |

May 11, 2022

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It is important, as a family caregiver, to better understand blood pressure in older adults. It is important to understand the difference between systolic (first number) and diastolic (second number), too. A home health care services provider can help with this.

 

Home Health Care in Headland AL: Blood Pressure

Home Health Care in Headland AL: Blood Pressure

 

Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

As noted above, it is vital to understand the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure is the pressure of the heart contracting while it pushes out blood. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure that occurs when the heart relaxes and fills up with blood again. Blood pressure is the systolic number over the diastolic number.

Low Blood Pressure

Your elderly loved one might have low blood pressure if they feel faint, dizzy, weak, or lightheaded. Generally, low blood pressure is classified as 90 over 60 or lower. There are many things that can cause low blood pressure including blood loss, dehydration, medical conditions, and some medications. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have a diagnosis of low blood pressure yet, but they are experiencing these symptoms mentioned here, be sure that you or an in-home care provider bring them to their doctor to discuss this.

 

Normal Blood Pressure

If your elderly loved one is healthy, they may have normal blood pressure. Generally, the normal blood pressure for elderly adults is considered to be 120 over 80 or right around these numbers. Some healthy elderly adults have a blood pressure of 125/70, for example. That is still considered to be normal.

 

Elevated Blood Pressure

Your elderly loved one may not have high blood pressure, but their numbers could be elevated. The elevated blood pressure levels are generally around 120 to 129 and a diastolic of under 80.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is one of the most damaging levels. Generally, high blood pressure is considered to be 130 or above for systolic and 80 or above for diastolic. If your elderly loved one feels their heart racing or they just don’t feel right, you or an in-home care provider may want to check their blood pressure. If they have high blood pressure on repeated occasions, it may be a good idea to have them see their doctor for a physical or checkup.

 

Conclusion

Hopefully, with this information, you have learned more about blood pressure in older adults. The more you know about this subject, the more you can keep an eye on your elderly loved one’s blood pressure. If, at any point, you are concerned with the numbers on a blood pressure reading for your elderly loved one, give their doctor a call or take them to the emergency room (if it is too high or too low). Sometimes, it is something minor like dehydration, but other times it can be serious.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Health Care in Headland, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

 

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure-and-older-adults

What Is Causing Your Dad’s Foot Pain?

Posted in Foot Care, Home Health Care |

February 28, 2022

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Home Health Care: Your dad doesn’t seem to walk much.

When he does, your dad complains about foot pain. So, he ambles and limits how long he’s on his feet. Mobility issues caused by pain are common, but the issue needs to be addressed by you, your home health care provider, and your doctor. What’s causing your dad’s foot pain?

 

Home Health Care in Elba AL: Foot Care

Home Health Care in Elba AL: Foot Care

Do His Shoes Fit?

One of the leading causes of foot pain is that the shoes don’t fit. Has your dad ever measured his feet to ensure his shoes are correctly sized? If not, it’s time. Once he knows his size, he should try different brands to find the best fit.

When he tries on shoes, make sure it’s late in the afternoon when he’s been on his feet for most of the day. His feet will be swollen at this point, so you know the fit will account for swelling.

If the shoes pinch anywhere or are too loose and rub, he needs to adjust the size accordingly. Go a half size smaller or larger. If the shoe pinches, go a half size up or try a wider fit. If they’re too loose, go down half a size.

Different brands will use their own size guidelines, so the size 10 that fits well with one brand may not be the same with another brand. Your dad could be a size 11 with another company. Once he finds a brand that fits comfortably, try sticking to that manufacturer.


Foot Care Is Crucial

Something as simple as toenails that have grown too long can lead to severe foot pain. If the nails are too long, they can cut into other toes when he puts shoes on. They can curl into his toe if they get too long. His nails need to be trimmed straight across and not rounded. They shouldn’t extend beyond the end of the toe.

Dry, cracked heels happen and can cause pain and infection. Keeping the skin moisturized helps with this. Exfoliating the dead skin is also essential. If your dad cannot reach his feet on his own, he needs to have a caregiver helping him. You can help with this task if you want or hire personal care at home aides.

Personal care at home aides can help your dad keep up with appointments with a podiatrist. They can help him at shoe-fitting appointments, assist him on walks, and help him with foot care at home. Learn more about personal care at home by calling a home care agency.

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Ozark, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Home Health Care: Sleep Improvement: What Can Senior Citizens Do to Get Better Sleep Quality?

Posted in Home Health Care, Quality Sleep |

February 9, 2022

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Home Health Care: Does your elderly loved one get enough quality sleep?

It is important to note that just because they are sleeping 8 to 9 hours every night, that doesn’t mean the sleep they are getting is quality. On the other side, just because they are only getting 6 hours of sleep each night, that doesn’t mean they aren’t getting quality sleep. You or the home health care providers can watch for signs of exhaustion or tiredness. If your elderly loved one doesn’t seem like they are sleeping well, there are some ways to improve the quality of their sleep.

 

Home Health Care in Eufaula AL: Senior Sleep Improvement

Home Health Care in Eufaula AL: Senior Sleep Improvement

 

Find the Problem

If your elderly loved one isn’t sleeping well, the first step is to find out the problem. It is difficult to make a proper solution if you don’t know what is wrong in the first place. Some common things that cause sleep difficulties in the elderly include:

  • Taking pain medications too close to bedtime
  • Drinking caffeinated beverages later in the day
  • Exercising too close to bedtime
  • Having loud noises in the home
  • Sleeping with the lights on
  • Using electronics in the bedroom

If you or home care providers can help your elderly loved one to find the reason why they aren’t getting good sleep, you can make a plan to solve that problem.

 

Setting Up a Routine 

Is your elderly loved one on an erratic sleep schedule? Maybe, some nights they aren’t going to sleep until 3 a.m and other nights they are going to sleep at 10 p.m. Some mornings they may be sleeping in until 11 a.m. and other mornings they are up by 5 a.m. The more erratic your elderly loved one’s sleep schedule is, the less quality sleep they are going to get. If this is happening for your elderly loved one, you or in-home care providers can work with them to set up a better sleep routine. They should find a time that works best for them to wake up in the morning. Then, they should figure out how much sleep they need to feel rested. For some elderly people it is about 6 hours and others might need a lot more. This is going to be some trial and error.

Home Health Care: Conclusion

There are far too many senior citizens who aren’t sleeping well at night or not sleeping enough. It is important to remember that sleeping too much can cause issues, as well. It is crucial that you and senior care providers help your elderly loved one to find the source of their sleep issues. Then, you can help them to make a plan, so they can finally start getting quality sleep on a regular basis.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Ozark, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5300306/

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/good-nights-sleep