Senior Care in Simpsonville SC

You’ve noticed bruises on your parent’s arms and legs growing in number. Your first thought is that they may be falling or bumping into objects, though they insist that is not the case. You start to wonder if there is an underlying disease behind the mysterious increase.

Why Aging Skin Bruises

Most bruises occur because of broken capillaries (small blood vessels) near the skin’s surface. Slowly, the body reabsorbs the blood and the bruise disappears. Skin thins as people age and the fatty protective layer diminishes, making the elderly more susceptible to bruises.

Causes

• Trauma. Most bruises are caused by a blow to that particular area. It could be your parent absentmindedly bumped into objects or it could be that something else is triggering the bruising.
• Medications. Certain medications can cause or increase susceptibility to bruising. These include corticosteroids, blood thinning medications such as aspirin and Coumadin, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, and some medicines that treat cancer. Ginkgo biloba, an herb that is available over-the-counter, also has blood thinning qualities.
• Diseases. Easy bruising or bruising that does not dissipate over time can be a sign of a serious disease. This can indicate a blood-clotting problem or a blood disease. Leukemia, liver disease and atrial fibrillation may all be responsible for increased bruising.

Treatment

Treatment should be focused at getting to the bottom of the underlying cause. Once determined, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the pain associated with the bruise. The first step is to apply ice within the first 48 hours. After this point, you can apply heat, or a combination of the two. Arnica, which comes in a cream or gel, is a homeopathic remedy which is available over the counter and helps decrease the swelling and pain associated with bruises.

Senior Care Provider

If no underlying disease or medication is determined to be the problem, eliciting the service of a senior care provider can help provide the care your parent may need when no one else is around. They can be your eyes and ears, confirming that your parent is not suffering from imbalance issues or falls when no one is present. They can assist with the daily activities of living and prepare healthy meals to ensure your parent is getting the dietary nutrition so important to the elderly. They can also accompany them on daily walks, put on an appropriate exercise CD, or take your parent down to the local gym to make sure they are getting the exercise they need to remain steady on their feet and healthy into their elder years.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring senior care in Simpsonville, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

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Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

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