5 Things to Know About Afib
Atrial fibrillation, or Afib, is a condition in which the heart sometimes beats in irregular ways.
It may beat too quickly or too slowly, or it may beat in an uneven manner. If your older family member has been diagnosed with Afib, family caregivers can be more effective and prepared by learning as much as possible about the condition. To get you started in gathering knowledge about Afib, here are 5 things you should know.
Senior Care in Beech Grove IN: Things to Know About Afib
#1: Afib Increases the Risk for Other Problems
When Afib goes untreated, the risk of dying from a heart-related condition is doubled. There is also a 5 times greater risk of suffering a stroke. Because many people don’t take Afib seriously, it sometimes goes untreated. To help your older family member reduce the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, help them to continue with treatment for Afib.
Elder care can assist with disease management by reminding the senior to take medications and driving them to appointments to monitor the condition.
#2: Afib Can Have Different Symptoms
In some cases, an older adult may not have any symptoms. Instead, Afib is discovered by a doctor during a visit for something else. However, many people can feel the difference in the way their heartbeats during an episode. Their symptoms may include:
- Heart palpitations that might be described as a racing heart, a flip-flopping feeling, fluttering, or pounding.
- A feeling of weakness.
- Fatigue.
- Feeling lightheaded.
- Dizziness.
- Short of breath.
- Chest pain.
Elder care providers can watch for symptoms of an Afib episode and call for emergency help if needed.
#3: Afib Affects Many People
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 2.7 million people in the United States with Afib. That means, your aging relative is not alone. Because having Afib can be emotionally distressing, older adults may benefit from attending support group meetings for people with serious diseases.
An elder care provider can drive your older family member to support group meetings and wait until they are ready to go home.
#4: Afib Can Lead to Stroke
Afib can lead to stroke because the irregular heartbeat can cause the heart to collect in the blood where it may clot. If a clot breaks off and travels to the brain, cutting off blood supply, a stroke may occur.
An elder care provider can watch for signs of a stroke and call 911 should they occur. The faster the senior receives medical treatment for stroke, the more likely they will have a successful outcome.
#5: Afib Can Cause Heart Failure
An irregularly beating heart can cause the heart muscles to become weaker. When this happens, it may not be capable of efficiently pumping blood throughout the body, which is heart failure.
If your aging relative develops heart failure, an elder care provider can assist them to manage the condition and live a more complete life despite the disease.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Senior Care 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.heart.org/en/health-topics/.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease
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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