Managing A Chronic Disease At Home

Many people prefer to manage a chronic disease at home. It is cost-effective, and you are in the place where you feel most comfortable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that six in ten adults in the United States have a chronic disease, with heart disease, cancer, and diabetes as the main causes of death and disability. Staying on top of these conditions is no easy feat for a senior caregiver without any support. So, what can you do to manage your loved one’s chronic disease at home?  

How to Care For A Person With Alzheimer’s In A Home Environment  

Is the person you are caring for not ready for a memory care residence? Maybe you are considering in-home care instead? Dementia affects everyone differently, but there are a few basic things you can do to care for a person with Alzheimer’s in a home environment.

• Maintaining a daily routine keeps people with Alzheimer’s focused and oriented. Is your loved one more lucid during the morning or evening? Adapt your routine to make optimal use of the times they are most cooperative. 
• Learn how to communicate with your loved one. Minimize background noise, use short sentences and a calm tone, and always try to be respectful in your communications.
• Include activities and hobbies they enjoy in their daily program.   

Caregiving Loved Ones With Diabetes  

Are you a caregiver for someone with the chronic disease diabetes? According to the American Diabetes Association, older adults with diabetes are twice as likely to experience hearing loss, although experts are stillnot sure why. Continue to ensure your loved one eats balanced meals at home, checks their blood sugar regularly, and takes injections when required. Diabetic older adults can do exercises, but must perform them safely by taking the necessary precautions. Maintaining the correct blood sugar levels saves money on healthcare costs and enhances your loved one’s quality of life.

Follow the Eight American Heart Association Essentials At Home     

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and the American Heart Association has eight essential actions you can take at home to improve your heart health.

 

1. Eat healthier by including lean protein, nuts, seeds and lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
2. Do at least 2.5 hours of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week.
3. Stop smoking, whether cigarettes or e-cigarettes (vaping). Secondhand smoke/vaping is bad for your loved ones as well. 
4. Sleep at least 7 to 9 hours per night.
5. Maintain a healthy weight and aim for a body mass index (BMI) of 25.
6. Control your cholesterol and consider monitoring your non-HDL cholesterol rather than total cholesterol.
7. Monitor your blood sugar and eat correctly to prevent high blood sugar levels.  
8. Keep your blood pressure within acceptable ranges and monitor it with blood pressure monitors you can use at home. 

How to Manage A Chronic Disease Such As Cancer In-Home   

Most cancer treatments are given at a clinic or hospital. There are times you can take the treatment at home if your health insurance coverage allows it and it is safe. Such treatments include:

• Oral treatment (pills, capsules, tablets, liquids)
• Topical treatment (creams or lotions)
• Intravenous (IV) drugs
• Injections under the skin or into a muscle. 

When managing a chronic disease such as cancer in-home, it is vital to take the medicines or injections precisely as advised. Always keep in contact with your cancer care team, and don’t hesitate to check with them if you are concerned about anything. Store the drugs safely and follow the rules for managing them.

UMC HomeWorks Chronic Disease Management in NJ   

Modern technology allows our UMC HomeWorks chronic disease management service to remotely monitor the health of seniors while they live at home. With the use of telemedicine service centers software and monitoring devices, our teams can track your health data unobtrusively and quickly detect potentially serious health problems, reducing the need for hospitalization. The system also guides healthcare teams towards the lifestyle changes, therapies, and counseling older adults need to help manage chronic conditions from the beginning.

To learn how we can help you manage a chronic disease at home, or if you want to know what other services we offer at United Methodist Communities (UMC) HomeWorks, please contact us or visit our website today at: https://umcommunities.org/homeworks/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/homeworks/memory-care/managing-a-chronic-disease-at-home/