Home Care Services: How Does Stress Impact Senior Citizens?
Home Care Services: Unfortunately, there are millions of elderly people who have a stress disorder.
Many others have stress that isn’t diagnosed as a disorder. This isn’t talking about normal stress that everyone experiences from time to time. It is talking about the stress that takes over their day or their life. As a family caregiver, it is helpful to learn how stress can impact senior citizens. The more you know about this, the more you and your home care services provider can see how vital it is to help your elderly loved one overcome the stress.
Home Care Services in Beech Grove IN: Senior Stress
Weakened Immune System
One of the negative impacts of stress is a weakened immune system. It may be tough to see how these two things have anything to do with one another. However, studies show that people who are chronically stressed and more likely to be sick. The main reason for this is that stress puts a lot of strain on the body and causes, sometimes, severe fatigue. When a person’s body is drained of energy, it can’t properly fight off germs and other illnesses. For this reason, if you or a home care assistance provider notices your elderly loved one is stressed, do what you can to help them move past it.
Heart Problems
Your elderly loved one may experience heart problems if they are chronically stressed, as well. As mentioned above, when the body is under a lot of stress, it becomes weaker. On top of that, the more stress someone has the more adrenaline that is running through their body. Over time, the adrenaline puts a lot of pressure on the heart due to the increased heart rate and blood pressure. If your elderly loved one doesn’t get the stress under control, it could lead to heart disease or even a heart attack. If you or a home care provider suspect your elderly loved one is having heart issues due to high-stress levels, make sure they see their doctor very soon.
Digestive Health Issues
Another way that stress impacts the elderly is by causing digestive health issues. Most senior citizens who experience chronic stress will either become constipated or have chronic diarrhea. The body goes into fight or flight when it is under stress. When the body is in this state, the central nervous system gets confused and can send mixed messages to the other areas of the body including the digestive system. This is what causes the digestive issues just mentioned. If you or a home care services provider can help your elderly loved one to lower their stress, it could help to clear up these digestive problems.
Home Care Services: Conclusion
There are numerous ways that stress can negatively impact senior citizens. In regard to your elderly loved one’s care, it is vital that you try to work with them to lower their stress as soon as possible. It could help to prevent many health issues.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Care Services in Beech Grove, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760
Sources
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
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