Healing At Home

Posted on: 29 December 2022

Renal disease can lead to kidney failure if not monitored and well-managed. Seniors who have preexisting conditions such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, and high blood pressure may be at high risk for renal disease, however, it can occur in people of all ages and health statuses. If you are home-bound and need help managing your kidney disorder, consider the following renal disease interventions an in-home senior care professional can implement.

Physical Assessments

If you have end-stage renal disease, then you may experience certain signs and symptoms that may necessitate a doctor's visit or even a trip to the emergency room. Your in-home senior care provider will perform periodic physical assessments to evaluate you for fluid retention, which is also called edema.

People who have renal disease often develop swollen ankles, however, they can also develop facial swelling, swollen fingers, and abdominal swelling. This happens when the kidneys are unable to remove fluid and toxins from the body, and because of this, the fluid builds up in the soft tissues.

If your caregiver determines that you have fluid retention, they will notify your doctor. The physician may recommend an office visit, a hospital visit, or prescribe a diuretic medication that will promote urination and decrease your edema. 

Renal Diet Preparation

If you have kidney disease, you may need to consume a low-sodium diet. This means that you will need to eat foods that contain very little salt. Excessive salt consumption raises blood pressure and can make it more difficult for your kidneys to work properly. It can also promote edema as a result of fluid retention.

Your caregiver can also offer you water throughout the day to further help decrease fluid retention and help promote optimal kidney function. If you are dehydrated because you do not consume enough water, your body will retain more fluid. Once you become more hydrated, your body will release excess fluids and your ankle swelling may decrease.

It is important to note that if you have preexisting congestive heart failure, your doctor may prescribe a fluid restrictive diet. This means that you will be unable to drink as much water as you want. If you are on a fluid restrictive diet, your in-home senior care provider will measure the amount of water you can have. This is done so that people with congestive heart failure do not develop fluid overload, which can impair cardiac function.

If you have renal disease and have lost some of your independence as a result, think about hiring a senior in-home caregiver. Knowing that your needs are being met by your caregiver will provide you with more confidence which may encourage you to become a little more self-sufficient with your own care.

If you need in-home senior care, reach out to a provider, such as Comfort Keepers South Orange County.