Kidney Health Tips for Seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties
Chronic kidney disease affects 37 million Americans, with one-third of the population at risk for developing the ailment, as reported by the National Kidney Foundation. There are millions of individuals who are completely oblivious to the fact that they have chronic renal disease. If you're worried about your senior loved one's kidney health, it's important to encourage them to take the right steps to ensure their kidneys remain healthy and lower their risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
The team at Visiting Angels Central Coast can encourage your loved one to take good care of their kidney health. Our in-home care services not only help seniors in Scotts Valley, Watsonville, Marina, Carmel, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Salinas and surrounding areas in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties with everyday household tasks, but also make it easier for them to incorporate habits into their everyday routine that help them stay healthy and age in place independently longer.
How Visiting Angels Can Help Seniors in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties Maintain Good Kidney Health
Whether your loved one needs to reduce their risk of developing chronic kidney disease or needs help managing symptoms, our caregivers can help them in the following ways:
Know the Symptoms
If you're worried your senior loved one may have chronic kidney disease, it's important to watch out for any possible symptoms. If your loved one is experiencing any of the following, urge them to talk to their doctor:
- Exhaustion
- Urinating more often or less often than usual
- Foamy urine
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Dry or itchy skin
If your loved one shows any of these symptoms, it's improtant for them to get screened and get on a treatment plan as soon as poissible. Otherwise, their condition could worsen and they may start showing the following symptoms:
- Numbness or swelling in their arms, legs, ankles or feet
- Muscle aches and cramps
- Breath that smells fishy or smells like urine
- Trouble concentrating
- Vomiting
- Trouble sleeping
- Shortness of breath
However, there may be times where you can't keep a close eye on your loved one, especially if you have career or family obligations or you live outside of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Fortunately, caregivers from Visiting Angels Central Coast can act as a second pair of eyes and ears and closely monitor your loved one during caregiver visits. If we notice any unusual behaviors or possible symptoms of chronic kidney disease, we will keep your family informed so you can make the right decisions.
Get Tested for Chronic Kidney Disease
Getting tested for chronic kidney disease can help your loved one find the right treatment plan and a strategy to manage their symptoms. Not only should those who are already showing signs of chronic kidney disease get tested as soon as possible, but those in certain risk groups should also consider getting tested. For example, people who have diabetes, high blood pressure, a family history of kidney failure or are over the age of 60 are at a greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Caregivers from Visiting Angels Central Coast can provide reliable transportation to and from the doctor so your loved one can get screened and see if they're at risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Since we understand that waiting for screening results can be stressful, we can also keep your loved one company and help hem manage any feelings of anxiety or nervousness.
Manage Preexisting Conditions
Certain chronic health conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, can also make seniors more susceptible to kidney damage. If your loved one has been diagnosed with these conditions, they should take steps to manage them, either through medications or makin healthier adjustments to their lifestyle.
With in-home chronic illness support from Visiting Angels Central Coast, your loved one can get the care they need to manage symptoms of chronic health conditions and increase the amount of symptom-free "good days" they have. For example, our in-home care providers can remind your loved one to take blood pressure medication at the right time, prepare meals that keep their blood sugar levels low and so much more.
Be Mindful of Medications
Although medications are typically used to help manage symptoms of health conditions, certain medications can actually negatively impact kidney health. For example, being too reliant on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can damage the kidneys, so your senior loved one should be careful about using over-the-counter pain relievers.
Eat Well
A well-balanced diet can reduce the likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease or help manage symptoms. Your loved one should speak with their healthcare provider or a dietician about developing a meal plan to help them stay on top of their kidney health.
When it comes to kidney health:
- Those who are at risk of chronic kidney disease should limit their sodium and protein intake and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids;
- If you think your loved one may have advanced kidney disease, they should limit the amount of potassium and phosphorus in their diet (this may also involve reducing the amount of calcium in heir diet, as foods that are high in calcium also have a lot of phosphorus);
- The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet, even though it primarily focuses on meals that can manage hypertension and similar conditions, can also be effective in managing kidney health. This diet emphasizes incorporating more fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds and nuts into one's diet and reducing the amount of salt and sodium, added sugars and sweets, fat and red meats.
Our home care services at Visiting Angels Central Coast can include planning and preparing meals. We can help your loved one maintain a balanced diet by preparing healthy meals and following any diet pan that has been established to help them reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Exercise
In addition to lowering the risk of chronic kidney disease, exercise helps seniors keep their kidneys, hearts, blood vessels, muscles and bones healthy. The National Kidney Foundation recommends starting with mild exercises for 10-15 minutes daily, then gradually building up to 30-60 minutes a day. Exercise routines don't have to be strenuous at first; even simple tasks like gardening, walking and household chores can give your loved one enough exercise to keep their kidneys healthy!
If your loved one needs an exercise buddy, Visiting Angel Central Coast can help. Our caregivers can encourage your loved one to stretch for a few minutes a day at home, accompany them on a leisurely walk around their neighborhood, take them to fitness classes at the Downtown Senior Center at London Nelson Community Center and more.
To learn more about how Visiting Angels Central Coast can help your senior loved one, call us at 831-430-0616 or fill out our form to schedule a free in-home consultation!