Tips for Seniors with Kidney Disease

According to the National Kidney Foundation, there are about 37 million people in the United States who have kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is the 9th leading cause of death in America. People with certain conditions, including diabetes and high blood pressure, are more likely to develop kidney disease. If your older family member has kidney disease, there are ways to slow the progression, such as by using these tips below.

Choose Healthy Foods

Home Care Manayunk, PA: Kidney Disease and Seniors

Eating a nutritious diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables and reduces salt can help to keep kidneys healthier. Your older family member should eat no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. In addition, eating less sugar can help. Less than 10 percent of the senior’s daily calories should come from added sugars.

A home care provider can cook meals for your older family member that are balanced and nutritious, but that are low-salt and low-sugar. The home care provider can also incorporate other dietary guidelines set by the doctor or dietician.

Manage High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can further damage kidneys and reduce their function. Therefore, it’s important that your aging relative stick to the treatment plan for keeping blood pressure within healthy levels. Eating less salt and following the doctor’s recommendation for fluid intake can also help.

Home care can assist with managing blood pressure by helping the older adult to check their blood pressure daily. In addition, a home care provider can remind the senior when it is time to take blood pressure medicine.

Quit Smoking

Smoking harms the blood vessels that feed the kidneys. It can also cause nephrosclerosis, which is a hardening of the kidneys. The National Kidney Foundation states that not smoking is one of the most effective things a person can do to help with kidney disease.

If your older family member smokes, home care can help them as they try to quit. Home care providers can offer encouragement when quitting gets tough. In addition, a home care provider can distract the senior with an activity or conversation when they feel like smoking.

Lose Weight

Carrying excess weight is a risk factor for conditions that contribute to kidney disease, like diabetes and high blood pressure. A doctor or dietician can help the older adult to develop a plan for losing weight that they can stick to.

Home care can assist with weight loss by cooking meals that are healthy and lower in calories. They can also help the senior to be more physically active by doing active things at home, going for walks, or driving them to an exercise class.

If you or a loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in Manayunk,PA talk to Unlimited Staffing Solutions. Specializing in Home and Community Based Support Waiver Services Since 2001. Please Call Us for Your Home Care Needs (215) 447-7133

Sources

https://www.kidney.org/content/7-tips-protect-your-kidney-heart-health

https://www.healthline.com/health/kidney-health/how-to-prevent-kidney-failure#11-tips

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/prevention

https://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/factsheets/KidneyDiseaseBasics