Home Care Assistance: January is Thyroid Awareness Month which means it’s a fantastic time to make sure that your senior loved one isn’t exhibiting any symptoms of thyroid disorders.
More than 10% of seniors will develop some type of thyroid disorder like hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, or thyroid cancer as they get older. The symptoms of thyroid disorders are common for many ailments so thyroid problems that your senior loved one is having may go undetected. It’s a good idea to get your senior loved one to have a thyroid panel done to check their thyroid function. Also, you and your home care assistance provider should be watching your senior loved one to see if they develop any of these signs of a thyroid disorder:
Weight Loss
Weight loss is something that is usually good, but if it happens to a senior that is already a healthy weight then losing weight can become a cause for concern. If your senior loved one has a good appetite and eats healthy meals regularly but can’t seem to keep weight on or maintain a healthy weight then you should take them to an endocrinologist to get a thyroid panel of tests done. When you are trying to gauge whether or not your senior loved ones are losing weight for gaining weight an elder care provider that helps your senior loved one cook meals can be a big help. They can track your senior parent’s weight, meals, and exercise to see if their weight gain or loss is due to external factors that they are controlling or if they are really sick.
Weight Gain
On the opposite side of the spectrum, seniors who are gaining too much weight could have a thyroid disorder also. If your senior loved one doesn’t eat too much and tends to eat healthy but still is gaining a lot of weight they may have a malfunctioning thyroid that is making them gain weight. Thyroid disorders can also cause people to be extremely tired, which can lead to problems working out and staying healthy. If your senior loved one has an elder care provider that elder care provider can help you track their weight.
Dry Itch Skin And Rashes
Dry itchy skin and skin rashes can be caused by dozens of different medical conditions but the rashes and dry skin that your loved one is experiencing can also be the result of a thyroid malfunction. If you are treating your loved one’s dry skin with a high-quality moisturizer that usually works to heal dry skin but isn’t working to heal dry skin now that’s a sign that you should get your senior loved one to a doctor to have their thyroid function checked.
Home Care Assistance: Extreme Fatigue
Just like the other symptoms of thyroid disease extreme fatigue can be due to thyroid disorders or other causes extreme fatigue can also be caused by many things. Needing a nap here and there isn’t considered extreme fatigue. But if your senior loved one is so exhausted they can’t get off the couch for several days in a row or they have stopped exercising, participating in events, or socializing then you or your home care assistance provider need to make an appointment to have a thyroid panel done. It’s that easy.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care Assistance in North Canton, OH, please contact the caring staff at Autumn Hills Home Care, LLC today. (330) 217-6090
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from The Pennsylvania State University, and Master’s degree from The University of Akron.He is currently studying Spanish Language at the University of Akron.
He is married to Lisa, and together they have a daughter, two sons, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren.The entire family lives in Summit County, Ohio.
In his professional career he worked in hospitals, taking several assignments in Youngstown, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Akron, finally settling in Akron in 1987.
His career took him into starting up two specialty hospitals in Akron, then into starting up several Home Health and Hospice programs.
Fourteen years ago he and his wife, Lisa, entered into restaurant ownership and operation.They since started “Lala’s Restaurant and Fireside Lounge” in the Portage Lakes.The restaurant has been open since November 2019, and provides residents of the area with fine food and entertainment.
Toward the end of his service in the Hospice industry, Jeff had a vision for starting a Home Care service to care for seniors in our area.After a search of franchises and other businesses, he started Autumn Hills Home Care.Through this business, he has proudly provided the best of service to seniors throughout the area, as well as meaningful employment for many caregivers.
Most recently, Jeff entered government service as was elected Trustee of Coventry Township.He was sworn in and started service in January 2020.
In his free moments, Jeff enjoys family time, bicycling, golf, learning Spanish, and travel.He can be reached at jeff.houck@outlook.com
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