Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can affect people of all ages and cause airways to narrow. However, due to age-related issues like reduced lung function, other medical disorders, and medication interactions, seniors may have particular difficulties managing their asthma.
For seniors with asthma, creating a customized action plan is essential to controlling their disease and reducing the likelihood of asthma attacks. This can be done with the help of home health care providers, ensuring seniors both understand their asthma and the best way to manage it.
Understanding Senior Asthma
Seniors’ asthma treatment may be made more difficult by other medical conditions, including heart disease or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Additionally, immunodeficiency, reduced mobility, and age-related modifications to the respiratory system can affect the management of the disease.
What Should an Asthma Plan Include?
While no two plans are the same, there are a few key components that home health care may include in an asthma plan for seniors. Of course, the first step is for seniors to undergo a thorough medical evaluation by a healthcare professional with experience in respiratory disorders. Lung function tests, a review of the medications being used, and an assessment of any coexisting health conditions should all be part of this assessment.
Additional factors home health care providers should include in the plan include the following:
Symptom Monitoring
Seniors should be trained to see the telltale symptoms of an asthma flare-up, which can include coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. Seniors who regularly monitor their symptoms might be able to act quickly to stop severe asthma episodes.
Medication Management
In order to adequately control their symptoms, seniors with asthma frequently need to take several medications. Home health care providers can help manage these medications as well as teach seniors how to use nebulizers or inhalers properly. It’s also important to regularly review medications to avoid possible drug interactions.
Minimize Exposure to Triggers
Seniors who suffer from asthma should recognize and limit their exposure to triggers that aggravate their symptoms. Allergens (such as dust mites and pollen), air pollution, tobacco smoke, respiratory illnesses, and cold air are common asthma triggers.
Adopting strategies like using air purifiers, maintaining good indoor air quality, and getting an annual flu shot can help prevent asthma exacerbations.
Emergency Response Plan
To effectively manage asthma episodes or exacerbating symptoms, seniors, loved ones, and home health care can also work together to create a well-defined plan of action in case of an emergency. This plan should include what to do in the event of an emergency, such as when to call for medical assistance and how to give life-saving medications like albuterol or bronchodilators.
Since each senior with asthma is different, their action plan should be customized to meet their requirements, interests, and constraints. With the help of home health care providers, seniors can improve the quality of their lives overall, better control their symptoms, and lessen the frequency of asthma attacks by ensuring they have an asthma action plan that fully meets their needs.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Health Care in Orland Park, IL, please contact the caring staff at Platinum Home Health Care, Inc. today at (708) 995-7758.
Platinum Home Health Care, Inc. is a top provider of professional medical home health care services in Chicago, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Frankfort, Mokena, Chicago Ridge, Homer Glen, Boone County, Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, Will County, and Winnebago County and surrounding areas.
Sources:
- https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/asthma/treatment-action-plan
- https://aafa.org/asthma/living-with-asthma/asthma-in-older-adults/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma/differences-childhood-adult-onset-asthma
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