Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!
Topic: Chronic Condition Alert As the Holiday Season Approaches
As the holiday season approaches, I want us to remember that many of our elderly loved ones live with chronic conditions. Why bring up this topic now? I’m glad you asked. It’s a proactive discussion to alert all caregivers not to be reactive (waiting for a health issue to get worse). If you know your loved one has a chronic condition, avoid taking part in activities that could trigger a health flare.
Chronic conditions are ongoing health issues that persist daily. These include problems like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and high blood pressure. Managing these conditions requires a comprehensive approach that involves medication management, lifestyle changes, home safety awareness, education, and careful tracking to prevent complications. It’s important to stay vigilant in caregiving because one wrong decision could have serious consequences.
Management Strategies
Caring for any chronic condition requires careful oversight and management. Medication involves paying attention to the 5 rights used in nursing practice, which support safe administration. These are: the right person, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time. Medication errors can happen at home, so always check prescription bottles.
Even when caring for an elderly loved one, lifestyle still matters. Maintain health routines like a balanced diet, tolerable exercise, and social activities. Lifestyle changes can greatly affect health conditions.
Food becomes a holiday problem because chronic conditions have limitations. As a caregiver, it is essential to track things like blood sugar, daily weight, blood pressure, mentation, and mobility, especially for loved ones, using adaptive aids.
As Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, I know that chronic conditions significantly affect the health and freedom of loved ones, often requiring support from caregivers and healthcare teams. Effective management can prevent complications and exacerbations of illnesses and help our loved ones maintain a higher quality of life. Be safe! Be well!
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman is a retired registered nurse and case manager who serves as the CEO of Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate. She is eager to share her third book, The Essential Caregiver Training Course for Corporations and Communities. Her earlier works, From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor, and The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers, highlight her experiences and insights gained through her heartfelt caregiving journey.
Website: www.cynthiajhickman.info
