According to the CDC, the most at-risk age group for kidney disease is 65 years and older. This means your senior may develop kidney disease at some point. Why is this? There are many things that may lead to kidney disease; if a senior is struggling with other health conditions, it may lead to this disease. If your loved one just got diagnosed with kidney disease, it is time to look into in-home care providers.
But What is Kidney Disease?
This disease just means that someone’s kidney is damaged and cannot sort out and filter the blood properly. There is no cure for chronic kidney disease, but there are treatments that someone can receive to help filter the blood and feel more comfortable. Although in-home care will not be able to hand out medications, they are great at setting reminders for a senior on dialysis, which is one of the treatments for kidney disease.
It can be hard for seniors to live on their own with this disease, but they still may be hesitant about joining a senior community. Many people prefer aging in place, and in-home care can allow them to do this easily. Keep reading to learn more about kidney disease in seniors.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Over 37 million adults are living with kidney disease, scary, right? It is more common than you may think and can be challenging to deal with if your parent or loved one has just been diagnosed. Take a look at these ten symptoms that may be a sign someone has kidney disease. In-home care will help keep an eye on a senior and report any of these symptoms. Caregivers can even help transport them to their doctor’s office.
Less Energy
Along with less energy, a senior may be having trouble focusing. Unfortunately, this symptom can also indicate a lot of other diseases that are equally bad. If a senior has low energy and trouble concentrating for more than a few days, it should be noted by the doctor.
Trouble Sleeping
Toxins stay in the blood much longer because the kidneys can’t filter the blood. The lack of filtering can make it troubling to sleep or even uncomfortable. If your loved one has not been sleeping well, it can be a sign of kidney disease.
Dry Skin
On top of having very dry skin, it also may be really itchy. Dry skin can be a sign of the mineral and bone disease that someone with kidney disease has. This is usually an advanced stage where the kidneys can no longer help balance out the minerals in the body.
Urinating More
Kidney disease can cause someone to feel like they need to use the restroom more frequently. This can happen at night mostly, which also makes it hard to sleep. However, the need to urinate more can also be a sign of other health problems.
Blood in Urine
If the senior starts noticing pee in their urine, they need to see a doctor right away. The kidneys keep the blood cells in and filter out toxins. When they don’t work properly, the blood cells can leak out in other ways, like urine.