If you have recently learned that your aging parent is one of the thousands of people who will be diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States this year, your life has just taken a turn. As their family caregiver, you must now think about the care needs that they will have as they fight this disease, and how you will best be able to fulfill those needs to keep them as healthy, happy, comfortable, and safe as possible as they age in place.
Use these tips to help you care for a senior who is living with lung cancer:
- Relax. Encourage your parent to use relaxation techniques when they are experiencing shortness of breath. This can help them to feel less anxious and enable them to catch their breath better.
- Get comfortable. Help your parent stay comfortable when they are dealing with shortness of breath or fatigue. Getting comfortable can help them to catch their breath and ease the physical effects.
- Conserve their energy. Suffering lung cancer can lead to fatigue and make it so that your parent tires easily. Even basic daily tasks can be exhausting for them. Help them to complete tasks such as keeping their house tidy, preparing meals, and running errands so that they can focus their energy elsewhere.
- Consider elder care. An elderly home care services provider can help your parent to maintain their highest quality of life by providing personal care, assisting with completion of care tasks and taking care of their home, and offering companionship and support to boost their mental and emotional health. They can also provide valuable reminders to keep them compliant with their medications and treatments.
If you have been considering ways to improve your aging parent’s quality of life, boost their mental and emotional well-being, and support efforts to protect their health as they age in place, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting elder care for them. An elderly home care services provider can be with your parent on a customized schedule to ensure that they have continued access to the care that they need. These highly personalized services can include safe and reliable transportation to support activity and independence, medication and treatment reminders to help your parent stay compliant, assistance with personal care needs, mobility assistance, help with activities of daily living, and companionship. As their family caregiver, this can give you tremendous peace of mind knowing that whether you are with your parent or not, they will get everything they need to live their highest quality of life.
If you or an aging loved one needs elder care in Rancho Cordova, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
Sources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lung-cancer/basics/prevention/con-20025531
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/statistics/index.htm
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-small-cell-lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
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