Sarcopenia is a condition many people haven’t heard of, but it can affect up to 50% of elderly individuals over the age of 80. If you’re providing 24-hour home care for someone in their 80s, also known as an octogenarian, whether in your home or theirs, understanding sarcopenia, its symptoms, and the risks it presents is an essential part of ensuring their well-being.
What is Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia is a medical condition that impacts people as they age, causing a gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and function. This condition affects the musculoskeletal system and significantly increases the risk of falls and bone fractures. Both men and women are susceptible to sarcopenia, with the risk increasing as they get older, especially if they have other chronic health conditions.
For individuals experiencing sarcopenia, 24-hour home care can provide essential support, ensuring safety, assistance with daily activities, and a higher quality of life.
Sarcopenia Symptoms
At first, sarcopenia may seem like a natural part of aging, and in some ways, it is. However, with sarcopenia, the muscle loss is more severe and can significantly impact daily life. It may limit a person’s ability to maintain their independence, often making services like 24-hour home care essential for ensuring safety and support.
- Decrease in muscle size. The muscles of the person may begin to shrink, and the person may appear to be getting smaller.
- Muscle weakness. Your loved one may struggle to get up from sitting or squatting. She may not be able to lift heavy objects.
- Loss of balance and increased falls. Without strong core muscles, your loved one may struggle to regain her balance if she loses her footing.
- Easily fatigued. Regular activities like grocery shopping, cleaning the house, or walking the dog may become too physically taxing, and your loved one may be easily exhausted after doing any physical activity for an extended period.
- Trouble using stairs. It might become too difficult, or your loved one might have to use both feet to take one step when she uses the stairs because her leg muscles are too weak.
- A slower walk or gait. Your loved one may move a lot slower and drag or shuffle her feet as she walks.
Getting Help if Your Loved One Has Sarcopenia
If sarcopenia is preventing your loved one from being able to safely navigate her home or do the chores needed to keep a clean home, a 24-hour home care team can help keep her safe while also providing support around the home. With 24-hour home care, a person will be in the home at all times so she can receive the assistance she needs to go up and down stairs, carry heavier objects, or even get in and out of the bed or bathtub.
Her 24-hour home care team can also help ensure someone is always there in case she does fall and can’t get back up on her own. They provide reassurance to both her and her loved ones that she is never alone and always has someone alert in the home to step in and assist as needed. 24-hour home care can be a great way for your loved one to remain safe in the home, even if her sarcopenia has limited some of her physical abilities.
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-Hour Home Care in Eastlake, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aaron Home Care. (619) 880-5522
A Trusted Home Care Agency Serving La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, San Diego, UTC, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Coronado, Bonita, Eastlake, and the surrounding areas.
In 1999, Aaron was named Residential Program Manager of a group home for disabled adults in Arlington, Virgina. Here, he built a reputation for being compassionate with his clients and efficient in company operations. In the years that followed, Washington DC’s human services field went through unprecedented reform when the city was fined $11 million for the previously unchecked abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the very population it was supposed to protect. In 2005, Aaron was selected by a watchdog company to co-create and implement a monitoring system to safeguard and advocate for the system’s most vulnerable residents. This system is still in use today.
Aaron is now using his unique gifts and profound experience in the human service field to provide San Diego County Seniors with dependable, compassionate caregivers through Aaron Home Care.
He currently serves on the board of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council and is an active member of the Senior Advocate Network of San Diego.
Aaron Home Care is a member of the American Board of Home Care and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
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