When a senior has anemia it means they do not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry around oxygen. There are different types of anemia and it may last for a short time or a long time depending on what is causing a senior’s anemia. In-home care providers can help watch for any symptoms of anemia and remind your senior loved ones to set up doctor’s appointments to check their blood levels. In-home care can even provide transportation for your loved one.
Here are symptoms of anemia and things that may cause anemia in seniors.
Symptoms of Anemia
When a senior is anemic they may have various symptoms. In-home care can help watch for any symptoms that seem abnormal or unusual for a senior and they can keep notes on when it happens and exactly what happens. When your loved one goes back to the doctor they can take these notes and give them to the doctor.
Symptoms of anemia may include:
- Extreme Fatigue
- Weakness or Muscle Weakness
- Shortness of Breath
- Chest Pain
- Headaches
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Cold Hands and Feet
Most of these are things a senior may notice about themselves or things that senior home care will notice. Other things like having an irregular heartbeat may only be noticed once a doctor already finds it.
Here are some things that may cause anemia and how in-home care can help your loved one manage this condition.
A Bad Diet
When your loved one is not focused on eating a well-rounded diet it can impact the amount of healthy blood in their bodies. As your loved one ages in place, it can get harder to do the basic things like cook fresh foods. In-home care can be a huge benefit when you have someone who wants to age in place. Your senior loved one needs to eat nutrient-dense foods to help fuel and nourish their body. A senior needs to focus on finding iron-rich foods that will help support their body so it can replenish healthy red blood cells.
Chronic Disease Can Destroy Blood Cells
Unfortunately, as a senior gets older the chance of developing a chronic disease increases. Things like cancer or leukemia can destroy healthy red blood cells and cause anemia. These conditions need to be managed by a doctor and treatment will need to happen to keep a senior as healthy as possible.
Bleeding Internally and Externally
There is both internal and external bleeding. If a senior bleeds out enough they will lose enough blood to become anemic. This means if an old wound is not healing or wounds have reopened it could cause them to lose all of their healthy blood. On the other hand, internal bleeding or even ulcers can limit the amount of healthy red blood cells in a senior’s body too. There may be signs of internal bleeding and a senior will need to talk to a doctor right away when this happens.
Medications
If your loved one is battling a chronic disease they may be on medications that block the absorption of iron. If you think your loved one is anemic they should talk to their doctor to get more help.
If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care Services in Laguna Beach CA, please call the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
Canaan Home Care – A Premier Provider of Senior Home Care in the La Jolla, Del Mar, San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Tustin, and Manhattan Beach areas.
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