Understanding Home Health Care Challenges

If your elderly loved one has a degenerative joint disease, otherwise known as DJD, then they may need help in the home because this orthopedic disorder can cause severe joint pain, immobility, joint deformity, decreased range of motion, and even depression. Consider the following interventions provided by home care services personnel that may help your loved one feel more comfortable at home. 

Exercise, Physical Therapy, And Errands

Your loved one's physician may have recommended mild exercises to alleviate some of the symptoms of DJD. Exercise helps promote blood circulation to painful joints, enhances mobility, and decreases inflammation. It can also promote restorative sleep that may be lacking in people with severe pain.

A home care services provider can assist the elderly person with their exercises and offer "stand by assistance" should the senior become weak, dizzy, or lose their balance while exercising. In addition to exercising at home, the doctor may have recommended outpatient physical therapy to help manage your loved one's degenerative joint disease.

If the elderly person is unable to drive to their physical therapy appointments, the home care services provider can drive them. The caregiver can also help the senior with other errands by driving them to the grocery store, post office, and medical and dental appointments. 

Therapeutic Diet Preparation

Many elderly people need to consume therapeutic diets such as those low in sugar, fat, sodium, and protein. Because seniors may be unable to prepare healthy meals for themselves as a result of their DJD, they may need to rely on others to prepare their meals. Therapeutic diets often require peeling and chopping of fruits and vegetables because these foods are important components of healthy menu plans.

Degenerative joint disease may also affect an elderly person's jaws, leading to pain and difficulty chewing food. The home caregiver can prepare mechanically altered diets as ordered by the physician. Mechanically altered diets include those comprised of pureed and chopped foods and are often recommended for people who have chewing and swallowing difficulties. Optional nutritional intake is an important intervention for those suffering from DJD because it can help enhance joint healing, suppress joint inflammation, and promote healing. 

If your senior loved one has a degenerative joint disease, speak to an elderly home care services provider. They can answer your questions pertaining to specific services, finances, whether they offer around-the-clock services, and if they provide nursing interventions such as wound care, tube feeding options, injections of insulin, and medication monitoring.