High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a life-threatening ailment, particularly for the elderly. To keep it at reasonable levels, careful monitoring and taking prescribed blood pressure medications is very important. These responsibilities can sometimes be easily forgotten, no matter how old a person is.
Hiring home care services can enable seniors with elevated blood pressure to take care of themselves by keeping their disease stabilized.
In -home care services are not “skilled nursing services”. Companions, CNAs and Home Health Aides cannot give medications or make medical diagnoses. What they can do for seniors is remind them to take their medications.
For a condition like elevated blood pressure, medication reminders can be essential.
While away from home, home care service providers can assist the senior to check his or her blood pressure by using the automatic blood pressure cuffs found in pharmacies.
Blood pressure monitoring can quickly be included into a trip to pick up a prescription or to the grocery store. Even everyday blood pressure monitoring can help the senior know if his or her blood pressure medication is working correctly.
Some seniors acquire automated blood pressure cuffs in their own home. Automatic blood pressure cuffs can be bought at a practical cost at any local pharmacy or drug store. The in-home care agency can help the senior with daily blood pressure monitoring and recording at home.
Seniors with high blood pressure should find assistance in keeping their condition controlled. Without control, the original symptoms the senior felt before going on medication may appear. These symptoms may include: dizziness, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, blurred vision, or headaches. Such symptoms are only warning signs of more serious problems that could arise from uncontrolled high blood pressure levels.
Some of the most severe repercussions of out of control high blood pressure in the elderly are heart attacks and strokes. The constantly high force of the blood on the walls of the arteries serving the heart or the brain become weak and may burst, causing the heart attack or stroke. These are potentially deadly circumstances, which may be stopped by the senior taking his or her medication and having regular blood pressure checks.
High blood pressure causes many problems with the body, and as people age, the chances of these problems happening may increase, especially if the person has suffered from high blood pressure for many years. Preventing future problems from high blood pressure depends on regular monitoring and taking the doctor-prescribed medicine as directed.
A home care service provider can help a senior remember to take much needed medications, possibly saving his or her life by avoiding the deadly consequences of uncontrolled hypertension.
Home care counselors at Safe at Home Healthcare are available to talk with you about your in-home care needs including how to reduce caregiver stress while providing better, affordable care, including live-in care. We are an elder care agency providing Home Care Services in Aurora.
