If you are a family caregiver for one of the approximately six million people throughout the United States who are currently living with heart failure, it is highly likely one of the recommendations your senior has received from their doctor is to closely monitor their weight. When a person experiences heart failure, their heart muscle is not strong enough to adequately pump blood throughout the body, and remove waste products. This means the body that can retain a tremendous amount of fluid, putting excessive strain and stress on the cardiovascular system.
Closely monitoring your aging parent’s weight can identify when their body is retaining fluid, which points to their heart failure getting worse and their condition necessitating medical attention. In order to get the most information from monitoring your seniors weight, it is important to do so accurately and regularly. Making this a normal part of your daily routine ensures the doctor has all the information they need to keep giving your parent the care and management that is right for them and their condition.
Use these tips to accurately monitor your senior’s weight when they are living with heart failure:
- Weigh your senior every morning. Weight fluctuates naturally throughout the day and weighing at night can give an inaccurate view of your parent’s body weight. Instead, make it a part of your parent’s daily wake-up routine.
- Make sure to weigh your parent and record their weight every day. Monitoring how their weight fluctuates enables you to identify sudden and drastic changes in weight that could indicate greater severity of their condition.
- Ensure your parent has used the restroom and has not had anything to eat or drink prior to being weighed in. This provides the most accurate monitoring.
- Encourage your parent to wear the same type of clothing for each weigh-in. This helps to prevent major changes in their weight according to what they are wearing.
- Make sure the scale is in the same location at each weigh-in. Simply moving a scale to a different part of the house, a different floor, or a different surface can make readings very different.
In your role as a family caregiver, your senior’s health is one of your top priorities. Encouraging your aging parent to live a healthier lifestyle can seem daunting, but home care can make it more accessible. Through the highly personalized services of a home care services provider, your aging loved one can manage their individual health challenges and issues, make good lifestyle choices, receive support and assistance in staying active,and experience a higher quality of life.
One of the most important aspects of helping your parent maintain better health is encouraging independence. By being there for your parent to provide transportation, offering physical mobility support, and encouraging your loved one to take on more of their own daily needs and tasks, this home care provider can help your senior feel more independent and in control of their own life. This can take pressure off of you, and allow both of you to experience less stress and better mental and emotional health throughout your care experience.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Needham MA, or anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts, please call the caring staff at CARE Resolutions – (508) 906-5572.
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