How to Care For Someone Who Has Lupus

You may not know what Lupus is, but if your senior has been diagnosed with this disease, you should know the basics of what it is and how you can help care for them. Caring for your senior loved one can be a challenge on its own, but it can be even more difficult when they are suffering from Lupus. If you need more help caring for your loved one, you need to consider hiring home care assistance. These professionals can help ease stress on you and your loved one. They will help with transportation to doctors and help remind your loved one what they need to do to manage their disease. Sometimes, friendly reminders are all your senior loved one needs to thrive and age in place even while battling a disease like Lupus.

What Is Lupus?

The easiest way to explain Lupus is when your immune system starts attacking your body, like your organs and tissues. Unfortunately, Lupus also causes inflammation in the body, which can impact your lungs, kidneys, skin, blood cells, and much more. It is so crucial to get regular checkups throughout the year and to get treatment if you think you have Lupus or if you think your senior loved one has Lupus. Here are some symptoms of Lupus that you or home care assistance should be looking for.

• Joint Pain.
• Joint Swelling.
• Fever.
• Fatigue.
• Skin Lesions.
• Chest Pain.
• Dry Eyes.
• Headaches.
• Fingers and Toes May Change Colors When Cold.
• Facial Rash.

Keep in mind that everyone may have a different experience, so it is so important to talk to a doctor if you notice one or more of these symptoms. Not everyone knows they have Lupus, and most people can live with Lupus, but seeing a doctor and getting medications to manage the symptoms will be crucial for a high-quality life.

Limit Their Sun Exposure

Although a senior should be getting out of the house regularly, Lupus can become worse due to extra sunlight. If your loved one has no choice but to go out, they should wear sunscreen and cover their skin. To be safe, a senior should be going out in the mornings or evenings when the sun is not directly high and up in the sky.

Understand What Stresses Them Out

Unfortunately, stress can also trigger Lupus symptoms to become worse. You need to talk with your loved one and figure out what is stressing them out and figuring out how to minimize that. Home care assistance can help care for your loved one, which may relieve stress. They can help your seniors get dressed, bathe, cook, and eat. These things may seem simple, but as you age, they can become harder to do on your own. Home care assistance can be the shoulder your loved one leans on, and it can minimize and reduce stress during everyday activities.

Keep Exercising

Your loved one will need to exercise slowly and do something low-impact. Moving around will help inflammation, but they still need to take it slow and listen to their  bodies. They never want to over exert themselves because it could trigger symptoms.