Most people are diagnosed with lupus before the age of 45, but as your loved one ages, the disease can progress, and other health issues commonly related to getting older may make lupus symptoms worse. These conditions might mean that how you care for your elderly loved one with lupus will need to change as they age. A home care provider can step in and offer the assistance your loved one needs so they can worry less about what’s getting done and focus more on staying healthy.
Lupus Symptoms
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system mistakenly begins to attack healthy tissue and organs in the body. These attacks lead to inflammation in the affected areas. The areas can be very different from one person with lupus to another. The areas most affected are the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
If your loved one has had lupus for many years, her symptoms may come and go. Lupus is known to go into remission for years for some people, only to reappear later.
If your loved one is currently suffering from lupus, their symptoms could include:
- Pain in their joints, accompanied by swelling and stiffness
- Extreme fatigue that makes performing daily living activities difficult
- Fevers that come and go
- A butterfly rash on their face
- Sores on their skin that get worse when exposed to the sun
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dry Eyes
- “Brain fog,” or confusion, headaches, and memory loss
Lupus Complications
A lifetime of dealing with lupus can lead to other health conditions that may affect your loved one now that they have had the disease for years or even decades. As a caregiver, being aware of these complications can help you assist them in making wise medical decisions when they start to appear. As with most complications, the sooner they are managed and/or treated, the better your loved one will feel.
Cardiovascular Disease. Lupus can cause inflammation in the areas around the heart, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
Pneumonia and lung disease. Having lupus increases the risk of developing an inflammation of the chest cavity.
Anemia. Lupus can lead to blood problems, including a reduced number of healthy red blood cells, causing some people to become anemic.
Kidney failure. Lupus can seriously damage the kidneys. Kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death among people with lupus.
Loss of cognitive function. Many people with lupus experience memory problems and struggle to express their thoughts. They may have recurring headaches, dizzy spells, or seizures.
Keeping Your Loved One Well
Managing the disease and its symptoms is an important part of helping your loved one live with the condition as they age. The increased risk of falling, getting seriously ill, or having another major health crisis can be reduced with proper diet, exercise, and regular doctor visits to talk about current health concerns and possible treatments.
At home, your loved one may find it beneficial to have a home care agency help with tasks that they can no longer perform or struggle to complete without help. Extreme fatigue and cognitive issues related to lupus can make it difficult to perform some home care tasks like laundry, cleaning, and preparing meals. Sometimes it may even limit driving capabilities.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Margate, FL, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call 954-962-0926.
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Florida, including Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward County.
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