Keeping your senior’s lungs as healthy as possible might not be as easy as you expected it to be, especially if her respiratory health isn’t as good as you thought. Determining what’s going on with her lungs is a big step in the right direction.
Talk Things through with Her Doctor
It’s always important to talk through health concerns with your senior’s doctor. If your elderly family member has had issues with lung health in the past, then it’s especially crucial for both of you to understand where she is now and what the expected prognosis is for her. There may be more that your senior’s doctor recommends, like pulmonary rehabilitation or other exercise programs. Seeing a pulmonary specialist may also be important.
Consider Medications or Supplements
If medications are prescribed, it’s important that your senior takes them as recommended. Some supplements, like specific vitamins or nutrients, might also be recommended by your senior’s doctor. Some treatments may not be something your senior takes, but something that she does. That might involve using a dehumidifier in the hottest parts of the year to assist with breathing, for instance.
Ask about When or if She Might Need Oxygen
Depending on the types of lung issues that your senior has faced, she may need additional help. Supplementary oxygen can make a lot of things easier for your elderly family member, but it may not be something she qualifies for just yet. Talk to her doctor about whether oxygen is something that she might need in the future and find out what the criteria are for supplemental oxygen. That enables you to watch for those clues starting now.
Look at Possible Dietary Changes
One of the changes your senior’s doctor might recommend might involve nutrition. When your elderly family member has breathing issues, the right mix of nutrients can help her to keep her body properly fueled. Eating can take a lot out of your elderly family member, so it’s important to put those calories back in and to make sure they’re as heavy with nutrients as possible. Talk to her doctor about the right mix of foods for her.
This is a lot to keep track of and to manage, for both of you. Your senior may also need additional help with a variety of different tasks. Home care providers can be the perfect answer because of the wide range of assistance they can offer.
If you or an aging loved one needs Home Care Rancho Cordova, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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