What is Shingles?
Home Care in Loveland OH: What is Shingles?
As a family caregiver one of the most important things that you can do to protect your senior’s health and well-being throughout their later years is simply to be aware of the challenges and risks that they are facing. This enables you to not only recognize when they might be suffering from such a condition, but allows you to prepare for the type of care that you will need to give them to help them manage this issue so that they can get through it in the best way possible.
One issue that is particularly risky for elderly adults is shingles. This viral infection can make a devastating impact on your parent’s health and well-being and lead to lingering consequences. It is vital that you understand this infection and how you can help your parent manage it so that you can protect them from these potentially severe effects.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 30 percent of people in the United States will develop shingles at some point in their lifetime. This is one in every three people. This condition impacts approximately 1 million people throughout the United States each year, with people over the age of 60 being at the highest risk for developing the condition.
Shingles is caused by a virus known as varicella zoster. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. This means that if your aging parent has had chickenpox at any point in their lives, the shingles virus already lives inside of their body and can at some point surface again in the form of shingles. If it occurs, shingles manifests as a red, blistering, painful rash that can last for several weeks. Shingles itself cannot be passed from one person to another, but if your parent does develop this condition and comes in contact with someone who has not had chickenpox, they can spread the virus which can lead to a chickenpox outbreak.
If you have noticed that the challenges of caring for your elderly parent have become too extensive for you to handle comfortably and confidently, your schedule has changed and limited your ability to manage your parent’s needs, or your parent’s needs have increased, now may be the ideal time for you to start home care for them. An in-home senior care services provider can be with your elderly parent on a schedule that is right for them and their needs, allowing you to care for them as much as is right for you and your elderly loved one. This enables them to receive a highly personalized set of services that will help them to stay safe, healthy, comfortable, and happy throughout their later years while also supporting their mental and emotional well-being, and as much independence as possible. If your elderly loved one is suffering from a serious health issue such as shingles this care provider can be invaluable. They can help your parent to remain compliant with their medications and other treatments through meaningful reminders, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and keep you informed of their health and well-being so that you can make the decisions that are right for their ongoing treatment and care.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home care in Loveland, OH, please contact the caring staff at Queen City Elder Care today. Serving Cincinnati and Surrounding Communities. Call Us Today (513) 510-4410.
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/definition/con-20019574
https://www.cdc.gov/features/shingles/
Michele Vollmer is a visionary leader who is perpetually searching for ways to improve, so to remain at the leading edge of the home care industry.She has served in the healthcare industry since 1989, including pharmaceutical and home health sales, as well as hospice sales and sales management.
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