Understanding the health issues that your parent deals with during their later years is one of the most important elements of being a family caregiver for an elderly adult. This starts with recognizing the risk factors that your parent has that might increase the chances that they will develop certain conditions. This understanding enables you to take steps to reduce the risk or to prepare yourself for the possibility that they will develop the condition so that you can modify your care routine to ensure that they get the care that they need to handle it properly.

Some of the risk factors associated with macular degeneration and ways that you might be able to reduce those risks and protect your parent from AMD include:

• Age. The majority of people who are living with AMD are over the age of 65, and the risk for developing the condition only increases further with age.

• Family history. Studies show that there is a hereditary element to macular degeneration. Those who have a family member who has been diagnosed with AMD are more likely to develop it themselves. There is also a possible genetic link, with several genes having been identified as possibly contributing to the development of the disease.

• Smoking. The use of tobacco has no benefits and can cause increased danger for a variety of health problems. This includes increasing the chances that your senior will suffer from AMD. If your elderly parent smokes, help them to find safe and healthy ways that they can quit. Exposure to second hand smoke also increases the risk of health complications including AMD, so work with them to ensure that they are not in an environment where they are frequently exposed to smoke.

• Obesity. Carrying extra weight puts a tremendous strain on virtually all systems of the body, including the eyes. Research has indicated that people who are obese are at greater risk of developing the disease, but it also means that those who are in the early phases of the disease are likely to progress into a more severe form of the disease more rapidly than those who are at a healthy weight.

• Cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is another high risk of older age and it puts your parent at higher risk for many other health problems. If they are dealing with cardiovascular disease, this condition impacts their blood vessels, which increases their risk of macular degeneration. If your parent is living with this condition, it is important that they are managing it in the best way possible. Talk to their doctor about the link between their cardiovascular disease and their eye health so that you can make sure that you are supporting your parent in caring for both in the way that is right for them

Starting senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you make for them throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. A senior home care services provider can be there for your elderly family member on a customized schedule that is right for their needs. This means that they can receive the right care, support, and assistance while also keeping you at the forefront of their care. The highly personalized services of a senior home care services provider are specifically designed to address your elderly parent’s individual needs, challenges, and limitations in such a way that they are able to stay healthy, safe, comfortable, and happy, and pursue a lifestyle that is as active, independent, and fulfilling as possible as they age in place. This can include anything from helping your parent to make good lifestyle choices to providing safe and reliable transportation and physical support and assistance to offering reminders to help them remain compliant with their medications and treatments.

https://nei.nih.gov/eyedata
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-macular-degeneration/home/ovc-20164874
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wet-macular-degeneration/home/ovc-20164274
https://nei.nih.gov/eyedata/amd

If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Professional Senior Care in Lake Worth, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff at Assisting Hands Home Care at 561­-829­-3080 Today.