Does your elderly loved one have sleep apnea? Unfortunately, this is a condition that can lead to a host of other issues. It can lead to depression, stress, breathing issues, lung issues, and much more. It can also cause relationship issues because when people don’t sleep well, they usually get quite irritable with their family members and friends. If your elderly loved one does have this condition, it would be a good idea to learn more about it. If you can get a good feel for how this condition affects them, you and their live-in home care provider can provide better care for your elderly loved one.
Risks Associated with Sleep Apnea
As noted above, if your elderly loved one has sleep apnea, there are other risks associated with the condition. Some of these risks include the following:
- Mental health issues (ex. depression, anxiety, and stress)
- Physical health problems (ex. breathing issues, lung issues, pain, inflammation, high blood pressure, diabetes, or even a stroke)
- Hormonal issues (ex. irritability and weight gain)
These are just some ways that sleep apnea can affect your elderly loved one. If they do have sleep apnea, it is crucial that they continue following any treatments their doctor ordered. It is also important they attend all their follow-up care appointments. They may need you or a live-in home care provider to take them to these appointments.
Treatments for Sleep Apnea
If your elderly loved one does have sleep apnea, their doctor will likely set up a treatment plan. Some of the treatments that your elderly loved one may have include:
- Use of a CPAP machine
- Inhaler
- Exercising
- Doing throat and mouth exercises
- Doing various breathing exercises
These are just some examples of treatments that are commonly prescribed for sleep apnea. Your elderly loved one’s doctor may need to do regular sleep tests to help ensure the treatment plan is appropriate for the severity of the condition.
Improved Lifestyle
It can be difficult for someone who has sleep apnea to live a normal life. However, if they are following through with their treatment plan, exercising, and doing their best to get rest during the day when needed, they can improve their lifestyle. In addition, if your elderly loved one ever experiences other health problems as a result of the sleep apnea, making sure they see their doctor about those issues can help to improve their life, as well. Lastly, your elderly loved one may need help from live-in home care providers to get things done throughout the day, especially if they are fatigued from not getting quality sleep.
How You and Live-In Home Care can Help
Sleep apnea is a frustration condition. It can affect various aspects of a person’s life. If your elderly loved one has sleep apnea, do your best to be supportive. With that being said, you might be getting tired when staying up with your elderly loved one or caring for them during the day. If needed, you can even hire live-in home care providers to spend time with your elderly loved one, when you need a break.
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818236/
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Live-In Home Care Services in Edison NJ please contact the caring staff at Expert Home Care today at (732) 937-5320.
We have been providing Home Health Care to New Jersey families since 1985, and have grown to become one of the largest licensed providers of Live-In Home Care in the upper New Jersey area. Our many years of New Jersey home care experience has produced a company that over 8,000 clients have come to rely on confidently, for help.
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