What Sends Elderly Adults to the Emergency Room During the Holiday Season?
Elder Care in Bronxville NY
As a family caregiver, one thing that you do not want to think about experiencing throughout your care journey is having to bring your aging parent to the emergency room. During the holiday season, however, there are many potential issues that can quickly turn a festive celebration into a dangerous situation, potentially leading to a visit to the emergency room, and possibly even an extended stay in the hospital. Understanding what can cause these visits can help you to take the proper steps to protect your aging parent and avoid these unpleasant holiday distractions.
Some of the issues that send elderly adults to the emergency room during the holiday season include:
- Foodborne infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that thousands of people each year suffer from foodborne illnesses and infections. While younger people might recover from such infections within a few days, more vulnerable people such as the elderly can suffer severe consequences, and even death. Be sure that you practice proper food safety throughout the season, including not leaving food out for too long during holiday feasts.
- Heart problems. The holidays can be hard on the heart, and not just because of the emotions that they bring up. Cardiovascular complications are common during this time of year for many reasons. Those who do not drink alcohol often might drink more, causing heart problems. Overexertion can also lead to heart complications.
- Illness. Cold and flu season might start in October, but it is still going strong during the holiday season. A cold, flu, case of strep throat, or respiratory infection can become severe very quickly, possibly even developing into pneumonia. Elderly adults have immune systems that are not as strong and effective as those of younger people, which means that even if an infection or illness is mild for you or your children, it could be very serious for your aging parent. It is important to maintain an aggressive germ control approach throughout the season and get your aging parent the medical attention that they need if they begin to show signs of illness or infection.
As a family caregiver, your desire for your parent to enjoy a high quality of life can become even more meaningful during the holiday season. This is the time of year when you want your loved one to enjoy special time with their friends and family, follow the traditions that your family has always cherished, and make memories that you can all carry with you for years to come. The stress, additional challenges, and added demands of this time of year, however, can make ensuring that your parent gets the care, support, and encouragement that they need more difficult. Starting elder care for them can be an exceptional way to help them maintain a safe, healthy, comfortable, and independent quality of life throughout the holiday season and beyond. This can include helping to ensure that they follow food safety guidelines, maintain a healthy home environment, and avoid potential fall risks that could leave them severely injured. This allows your parent to keep enjoying the holiday season in the way that is right for them while giving you confidence and peace of mind that they are getting what they need so that you are able to focus your energy and attention on what you need to throughout the season.
If you or an aging loved one are looking for elder care in Bronxville, NY, call the friendly staff at The Perfect Home Care at (855) 855-5728. Call today!
Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/27/cdc-cautions-against-thanksgiving-dangers-but-data-on-prevalence-is-scarce
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