The most common cause of death for men in the U.S. is heart disease. About 20% of men in the U.S. have coronary heart disease. Regular check-ups to track blood pressure and cholesterol are important for your dad. Knowing the signs of an impending heart attack is also important and includes chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, heartburn, and shooting pain down the arm.
Knowing this helped your dad get to the hospital quickly, and now you need to take steps to make sure he’s supported after heart surgery. Would 24-hour Home Care Help? What five steps should you take?
Arrange His Home for One-Level Living
For now, it helps to set your dad up on one floor of the house. Instead of overexerting while he walks up and down the stairs, he can work on gaining strength on the main level of his home. Make sure he has a place to sleep, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living area on the same floor.
Stock His Kitchen With Healthy Options
Your dad’s diet is going to change. His doctor may give him a list of foods he can and cannot eat. Go through his cupboards, fridge, and freezer and remove foods he’s not supposed to have. Donate them when possible and compost the others.
He may be told to go onto the DASH Diet or one like it. You’ll be filling his kitchen with whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. Get a variety to ensure he has plenty to choose from.
Accompany Him to His Medical Appointments
Your dad will have several medical appointments for follow-up care. For now, he’s not supposed to drive, so he needs a driver.
Accompany him to them for moral support. Plus, he might be experiencing stress that makes it hard for him to remember everything his doctor says. You can remember all of the instructions.
If you cannot get enough time off work for his appointments, arrange home care services. Have a caregiver bring him to his appointments and update you with the doctor’s notes.
Join Him for Walks
Exercise is important. As he recovers his strength and gets medical clearance, make a daily walk part of his routine. If you go with him, he may walk farther than when he’s by himself.
You may not live close enough to join him for a daily walk. Ask family friends or neighbors if they’ll walk with him. If not, hire caregivers.
Make Sure He’s Not Alone
Arrange 24-hour home care services for the first few weeks. Your dad will need help throughout the day and night. It helps to have caregivers with him at night for bathroom trips and during the day to take care of housework and meals.
To schedule services, reach out to a home care agency online or by phone. You’ll talk about pricing for 24-hour home care and learn more about booking services.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering 24-Hour Home Care Ocilla, GA, please contact the caring staff at South GA Family Care today. 229-299-8766
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/men.htm