Shingles: How Are Home Health Care Providers Able to Help Your Elderly Loved One if They Have Shingles?
Shingles: Does your elderly loved one remember having chickenpox when they were a kid?
Unfortunately, many elderly people will have another outbreak of the virus that causes chickenpox. This time, when it comes on, it is known as shingles. If you are caring for your elderly loved one, it is important to know more about this health condition. If your elderly loved one develops shingles, it might be a good idea to hire home health care providers to care for them.
Shingles: Homecare in Wilmette IL: Shingles Care
Symptoms That You Should Know About
As a family caregiver, one of the ways you know if something is wrong with your elderly loved one’s health is by the symptoms they experience. If your elderly loved one has shingles there are various symptoms that they might have. Some of the symptoms that you will want to watch out for include the following:
- Having blisters that are fluid-filled
- Having a single striped rash (this shows up on 1 side of their face or body)
- Chills
- Pain
- Numbness
- Itching
- Headache
- Fever
- Upset stomach
If your elderly loved one has shingles, you can expect their symptoms to last between 2-4 weeks. At first, they will likely have itchy, painful skin. They might have some numbness in those same areas, as well. The rash doesn’t usually show up until about 2 weeks after contracting the virus. When this happens, there is a blotchy, red rash. This rash has blisters that are fluid-filled. About 7-10 days later, these blisters start drying up and crusting over. After that, the rash starts disappearing.
Professionals don’t know exactly why this outbreak happens. However, it is said that people who have a weakened immune system are more likely to get this virus. This matches up with most elderly people.
Home Health Care and Shingles Patients
If your elderly loved one doesn’t have shingles yet, there is a vaccination they can get to help prevent this virus. If your elderly loved one gets shingles, it is important for them to see their doctor. There are some medications that can be given to help your elderly loved one feel better. Some of the other things that your elderly loved one might need if they have shingles are the following:
- Help from home health care providers to do daily tasks such as laundry and brushing their hair
- Rest throughout each day (this condition can be tiring)
- Having someone put wet compresses on the rash
- Wearing loose-fitting clothing
- Having someone apply calamine lotion to the rash
The home health care providers can help your elderly loved one with all of these things.
Shingles: Conclusion
Does your elderly loved one have shingles? If so, it is important that they get the treatment and support they need to get feeling better. After your elderly loved one sees their doctor, it might be a good idea to hire home health care providers to help your loved one heal and recover.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Wilmette, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/index.html
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/shingles
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