Has Your Senior Been Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation sounds like a serious heart issue, and it can be. But if your elderly family member has a mild case of AFib, it’s easy enough to keep under control and she may not notice it at all. The key is getting diagnosed early enough and following her doctor’s orders carefully. Here’s what you and your elderly family member need to know about atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Fibrillation Describes Irregular Heartbeats
Home Care Rohnert Park CA – Has Your Senior Been Diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a pattern of heartbeats that are irregular, which can be a little bit scary for your senior when she first notices them. Having these irregular heartbeats can increase your senior’s risk of other heart issues, like a stroke, blood clots, or heart failure. Treating the atrial fibrillation can help to reduce that risk. Once your senior’s AFib is treated, she may find that she doesn’t experience many symptoms on a daily basis.
What Are the Symptoms?
Everyone has a different experience with AFib. In fact, a lot of people don’t notice that they’ve got anything going on with their heart until their doctor notices something during an exam. If your senior does experience symptoms, they might include things like frequent dizziness or lightheaded feelings, heart palpitations, or chest pain. She could even feel short of breath more often and she could be really tired.
What Causes Atrial Fibrillation?
There really isn’t one cause for atrial fibrillation. Lots of people are born with AFib and never notice it at all. Sometimes people develop AFib because of high blood pressure or because of a family history of atrial fibrillation. Your senior’s doctor may be able to help her to narrow down possible causes for her own atrial fibrillation. Sometimes people never know what cause them to experience atrial fibrillation.
Treatments for Atrial Fibrillation
Your senior’s doctor may opt for a variety of treatments for your senior if she has AFib. Medication is an easy treatment and is often extremely effective. It can reduce the risk of some of the really scary complications from AFib, like blood clots. But your senior’s doctor may want her to make some lifestyle changes, too. If her AFib is really severe, she may need surgery.
As she’s learning how to navigate life with AFib, it might help if your senior has some extra help. Home care providers can handle daily routine tasks, leaving your senior’s time and attention free to focus on her health.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Rohnert Park CA, call At Your Service Home Care. Call today! (707) 573-1003
She became a discharge planner and immediately fell in love with the concept of home care and the autonomous clinical practice it affords nurses. Dr. Lucy was hooked and has been a strong supporter of home care ever since.Believing people need advocates in healthcare systems, she has championed that cause across the acute care and post-acute care setting.
Dr. Lucy has worked in every aspect of home care from Medicare Certified, DME, Infusion, Hospice and finally Private Duty/Private Pay services. She also works as a home care consultant across the country and as a legal nurse consultant for the home care industry.
Having worked in all areas of home care, Dr. Lucy has a well-rounded perspective of the challenges facing patients, families and the home care industry, and as a provider she advocates for patients through the maze of health care services. Dr. Lucy celebrated over 37 years as a nurse and patient advocate.
Dr. Lucy has a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois.In 1994, she received her Masters of Science in Health Service Administration from St. Mary's University, Moraga, California. Dr. Lucy received her Doctor of Nursing Practice awarded in 2016, graduating with Distinction and a 4.0 GPA.
She did her doctoral work on the global dementia crisis, aging and prevention strategies for healthy living. Developed dementia and Alzheimer's disease plans for aging patients leaving the hospital setting or entering long-term care or home health and hospice environments. She also developed a specialized program for those at risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In 1992, Dr. Lucy was designated CAHSAH Certified Home Care Administrator in the inaugural offering of this designation through the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH).
She is the founder and CEO of Creative Solutions Home Care Consulting Services and At Your Service Nursing & Home Care, a concierge nursing & home care agency that provides the services she believes are essential for seniors to age in place.She offers a higher level of care allowing people to be in their own homes with an emphasis on independence, safety, and quality of life.
Dr. Lucy is the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) and sits on the Board of Directors for California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH).
She has served on the boards for both state and national board associations, and is currently on the following boards and committees: Board of Directors, California State Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), 2002-present, National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC's) Private Duty Home Care Association Director, and multiple state and national home care committees.
Dr. Lucy goes to Washington, DC, several times a year to advocate for senior services and home care issues. She was past Commissioner for the Sonoma Commission on Human Rights.She is past chair of the local Senior Advocacy Services.
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