Most seniors have one or more chronic illnesses. Fortunately, these can be kept in check if they are managed well. With daily attention, your aging parent can have the best quality of life possible despite the disease.
In addition to medications, lifestyle changes are often required. This may mean changes in diet, or activity levels.
Active management may also mean daily tracking of things like blood pressure or weight. This helps to recognize and catch a problem early, before it gets out of hand.
Sometimes, as with dementia, active management is simply a matter of knowing how to shift your approach or communication so you minimize your relative’s confusion.
Here are some common conditions that respond well to active management:
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Dementia
- Diabetes