March is National Kidney Month, and it’s a great time to learn more about seniors and kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is one of the most common health problems that seniors have, and when it’s not well-managed, it can cause a lot of other health problems. If your parent has already been diagnosed with kidney disease, in-home care can help your parent manage their CKD at home.
With in-home care, your parent will have an easier time making healthy dietary changes, remembering to take their medications, and getting to follow-up medical appointments.
Seniors who have untreated or unmanaged kidney disease can have hormone disruptions, weak bones, anemia, heart problems, and other serious health problems. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your senior parent gets checked regularly for kidney disease.
Signs Of Kidney Disease
Some seniors don’t have any symptoms of kidney disease until the disease is advanced. That’s why your parent should get a regular kidney function evaluation every year.
But if you notice that your parent has any of these signs of kidney disease, make an appointment to have their kidney function checked right away:
Changes in urination
One of the first signs of kidney disease is a change in bathroom habits. Your parent may urinate more often, especially at night. Or they may go less often than usual.
You or their in-home care provider might also notice that their urine looks foamy, dark, or cloudy. Some people see blood in their urine. Others feel pain or pressure when they urinate. Since the kidneys control how much fluid leaves the body, changes in urination are often an early clue that something is wrong.
Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
Healthy kidneys remove extra fluid from the body. When they are not working properly, fluid can build up. This can cause swelling, also called edema.
You may notice that your parent’s shoes feel tighter. Their socks may leave deep marks on their skin. Swelling can also happen in the hands or face. While swelling can have other causes, it is important to have it checked, especially if it appears suddenly or gets worse.
Feeling very tired or weak
Kidney disease can cause ongoing fatigue. The kidneys help make a hormone that tells the body to produce red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen through the body.
If the kidneys are not working well, the body may not make enough red blood cells. This can lead to anemia, which makes a person feel weak, short of breath, or tired all the time. If your parent seems unusually exhausted or has less energy than normal, it may be more than just aging.
Loss of appetite or nausea
When waste builds up in the blood, it can upset the stomach. Seniors with kidney disease may lose their appetite or feel full quickly. They may complain about nausea or even vomit.
Food may not taste the same, and some people describe a metallic taste in their mouth. Unplanned weight loss can happen because they are eating less. These symptoms should not be ignored, especially if they last more than a few days.
Trouble concentrating or confusion
Waste buildup in the blood can also affect the brain. Your parent may have trouble focusing, remembering things, or staying alert. They might seem confused or slower to respond.
While memory changes can happen with age, sudden or worsening confusion can be a sign of a medical problem. It is important to talk to a doctor if you or in-home care services notice changes in thinking or behavior.
Itchy or dry skin
The kidneys help balance minerals and nutrients in the blood. When this balance is not working well, it can be off. As a result, the skin may become dry and itchy.
Your parent may often scratch their skin or complain that it feels uncomfortable. Lotion may help a little, but the itching often continues. Ongoing skin problems, along with other symptoms, may point to kidney disease.
If you or an aging loved one is considering In-Home Care in UTC, 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.
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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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