Caring for elderly loved ones can be a complex journey, especially when multiple health conditions come into play. One common yet often overlooked issue is hypothyroidism, which can significantly impact seniors’ well-being. Effective care management is crucial to ensure they receive the appropriate attention and medication to maintain their health.
Let’s look into the symptoms of hypothyroidism in seniors, the process of diagnosis and treatment, and the vital role of care management in supporting elderly individuals with this condition.
What is Hypothyroidism?
The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of the neck. This little gland has a huge responsibility of regulating the body’s components of two hormones – thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These two hormones affect every cell in the body and help the body control its temperature, use fats and carbs, and control how much protein the body creates. Those hormones will even affect the heart rate.
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid stops making enough of the two hormones it is in charge of. It is fairly common in the elderly, thought to affect 1 in 4 of those living in nursing homes, but because its symptoms come on slowly and often mimic many other symptoms of aging, it is not diagnosed until it has advanced.
Hypothyroidism Symptoms You May Notice in Your Senior Loved One
Early symptoms of an underactive thyroid slowly progress, causing many to ignore the symptoms. Your elderly loved one may start to gain weight and feel more tired more often. As the disease progresses, more symptoms will begin to appear.
- Sensitivity to cold or the inability to get warm. Your loved one might need extra blankets or have the heat in her home turned up to the point of being uncomfortable for others.
- Tiredness that isn’t relieved by rest. An overall weariness is common for many with an underactive thyroid.
- Muscle aches, weakness, and tenderness. Your loved one might find it hard to drum up the strength to sit up from a chair or climb stairs.
- The skin and hair may begin to dry out, causing coarse, rough skin and hair. Hair may also begin to fall out more frequently.
- Constipation
- Depression and memory problems. Really low levels of the hormones can affect your loved one mentally as well as physically.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism
The toughest part often of treating hypothyroidism is discovering that your loved one has it. It’s not always on providers’ radar to check the patient’s thyroid. The good news is that it’s an easy blood test to determine what levels your loved one’s thyroid hormones are at, and once a diagnosis is made, medication can be prescribed that will bring your loved one’s thyroid hormone amounts back up to healthy levels.
Care Management for Elderly Loved Ones with Multiple Health Conditions
While being diagnosed with an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism can be treated fairly easily, it can get complicated for an elderly loved one who has multiple other health conditions. The medication to provide the needed hormones to the body needs to be taken at a specific time each day in a specific way. When you combine that medication with other possible medication, your elderly loved one needs; it can seem overwhelming to manage.
Your senior loved one might benefit from having someone step in and help with care management providers so that she’ll feel confident managing all of her medications and speaking with different doctors with different specialties. A care management provider will help your elderly loved one navigate all of her care and help her communicate effectively with her health providers, ensuring everyone is on the same page and providing your loved one with the best care she can have to feel well while managing her health.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Care Management in Avon, CT, please contact the caring staff at Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Hartford, CT, today. Call (860) 969-3134
At Talem Home Care & Placement Services of Fort Hartford, CT, we provide passionate, understanding, and flexible caregivers in Hartford, Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, Cromwell, East Hartford, Farmington, Glastonbury, Kensington, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Windsor and surrounding areas in Connecticut.
Sources:
- Symptoms of Hypothyroidism - October 17, 2024
- The Advantages of Aging in Place for Seniors - October 10, 2024
- Communication Techniques To Try If Your Senior Parent Has Alzheimer’s - September 17, 2024
