Providing exceptional in-home senior care in Elizabeth, NJ and surrounding areas. Call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Chronic Disease Management

Adult Alternative Home Care has been serving the local community since 2009. We are locally owned and managed.  Founded by a nurse clinician with over ten years clinical experience working with the adult and aged population. Delivering dignified and prioritized care to those we serve. We are dedicated to employing passionate care providers who aim to deliver excellent personal and home health needs to the members we serve.

We are committed to helping those we serve get the best care that will allow them to remain safely in their homes. We believe care given in the right place at the right time preserves dignity for the elderly. We believe the adult and aged person are an integral part of the community and they will continue to be if their personal and home care needs are met in their residence.

Diabetes, Heart, and Lung Disease Care at Home

If you or a loved one are dealing with COPD, congestive heart failure, or another cardiopulmonary problem, lung and heart care at home may help you lead a better quality of life as you manage your health. If you think you or your loved one may benefit from heart or lung disease care at home, you may have a lot of questions, and we aim to provide answers to those questions in this article.

What Is Chronic Disease Management?

Chronic disease management is a type of supportive care that allows people with diabetes, lung or heart problems to stay at home rather than moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility.

What Does Diabetes, Lung and Heart Disease Care at Home Include?

Non-medical heart and lung disease care at home includes things like:

  • Companionship
  • Communication with care team
  • Light meal preparation according to dietary restrictions
  • Laundry
  • Errands
  • Grocery shopping
  • Tidying up the home, removing clutter that might result in a fall
  • Personal care like dressing, bathing, grooming
  • Help with light activities like going for walks
  • Assistance with pet care as needed
  • Standby assistance to prevent falls
  • Safety and security
  • Light housekeeping
  • Medication reminders

What Is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases that cause breathing problems and airflow blockages. This lung disease includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. While there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated [1].

What Is COPD Care at Home?

As a form of respiratory care at home, in-home COPD care handles things that become more difficult when you are struggling with COPD, such as housekeeping, cooking, running errands, and caring for pets.

Also known as in-home cardiovascular care, in-home heart and lung condition care is a type of supportive care that allows people with lung or heart problems to stay at home rather than moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Providing exceptional Chronic Disease Management of Diabetes, CHF, and COPD at Home for seniors and families in Elizabeth, Hillside, Cranford, Clark, Union, Livingston, West Orange, Short Hills, Millburn, & Chatham, New Jersey

Top Chronic Disease Management at Home in Elizabeth, NJ by Adult Alternative Home Care. Diabetes, COPD, CHF and more.

What Is Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a type of heart disease where the heart doesn’t pump blood as effectively as it should, resulting in blood returning to the heart faster than it can be pumped out and becoming congested (backed up).

Congestive heart failure causes a variety of problems, including heart palpitations, an enlarged heart, shortness of breath caused by the lungs filling with fluid, and kidney failure caused by the kidneys not receiving enough blood [2].

What’s Included in CHF Home Care Services?

In-home congestive heart failure services help with tasks that can feel unmanageable for a person who is struggling with heart failure. CHF home care services may include grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, medication reminders, and companionship. Don’t underestimate the importance of companionship – according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [3]:

-“Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.”

What Home Help Is Available for Lung Cancer Patients?

Cancer patients may struggle with heart and lung problems or have other needs. Home help for cancer patients may include things like companionship, personal care, medication reminders, cooking, and light housekeeping.

When looking for home care in Elizabeth, NJ, you won’t find a a more caring organization. View our services and change your life today.

We are dedicated to employing passionate caregivers and our clients love us. Don’t take our word for it, read our Testimonials!

What to Look for When Hiring a Home Care Agency for In-Home Diabetes, Lung or Heart Condition Care

Top Chronic Disease Management at Home in Elizabeth, NJ by Adult Alternative Home Care. Diabetes, COPD, CHF and more.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a home care agency for heart or lung condition care at home. Asking these questions to any home care provider you are considering can help you find the best one to suit your needs [5]:

  • Is the agency licensed by the state?
  • What type of employee screening do they do?
  • Can the agency and each potential caregiver provide references?
  • How do they handle billing and expenses?
  • What resources do they provide for financial assistance?
  • Will you get a written care plan before service begins?
  • Will you receive a patient’s bill of rights?
  • Does the agency work directly with you or your loved one as well as family members and healthcare providers?
  • Do you need to choose a primary family caregiver? What’s required of them?
  • What procedures do they have in place for emergencies?
  • How are problems resolved?
  • When can services begin?

Home Care for Diabetes Can Help in Many Ways, Including:

  • Understand diabetes and how it affects your overall health.
  • Monitoring blood sugar levels; know the signs and symptoms of low/high blood sugar.
  • Learn how to control your blood sugar levels with medication and a healthy balanced diet.
  • Manage your diabetes and other medications – all of them, not just your insulin.
  • See the impact of behaviors on your diabetes. We’ll cover nutrition topics as well as other lifestyle items.
  • Learn how to exercise in a way that is right for you.
  • Help you communicate effectively with your physician.

Types of Diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes can occur at any age, but is most often diagnosed in children, teens or young adults whose bodies make small amounts of insulin or none at all.

Type 2 Diabetes is the most frequently diagnosed, typically during adulthood. However, it is being increasingly diagnosed in teens and young adults because of high obesity rates.

How is Diabetes Managed?

While there is currently no cure for diabetes, the disease can be effectively managed with medications, a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise.

An important part of treatment is maintaining a healthy weight. Although there is no typical or strict “diet,” it is recommended to eat foods that are high in nutrition and low in calories – like fruits, whole grains and vegetables.

Physical activity is also a must to manage weight, lower blood sugar levels and increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin.

People with diabetes should aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week.

Medications and monitoring of blood sugar levels will be a part of life for people with diabetes.

Depending on the condition, blood sugar should be monitored several times a day or several times a week. In addition, many people need insulin therapy throughout the day or may need to take other oral or injected medications to manage the condition.

How Can You Benefit from Diabetes Care at Home?

At Adult Alternative Home Care we understand that living with diabetes may be challenging. From a healthy lifestyle to managing blood sugar and insulin levels, the disease may require extra care outside regular visits to the doctor or after a stay in the hospital.

Adult Alternative Home Care has experience in helping individuals and their families live with diabetes. Our home care professionals can visit people with diabetes in their homes or at assisted living communities to provide care or supplement care.

How Do I Know if My Loved One Needs Diabetes Care, In-Home Heart Care or Lung Disease Care?

Here are some signs that your loved one may need lung or heart condition care at home [4].

Reduced Mobility

Heart and lung problems can make it more difficult to get around the home, as can unrelated other health problems associated with aging. If your loved one has fallen, is at risk of falling, or struggles to get around the home as well as they used to, they may benefit from in-home care.

Changes in Appearance

Has your loved one recently gained or lost a significant amount of weight? Do they look unkempt or smell as if they haven’t showered in a while? Are they wearing the same clothes every day? They may need the type of help caring for themselves that heart and lung disease care at home can provide.

Inability to Drive

Age or health issues may take away your loved one’s ability to drive, making it harder for them to get to doctor appointments, grocery shop, and run other errands. In-home lung and heart disease care can help.

Failing to Take Care of Money Matters

Have you been finding unopened mail, uncashed checks, or unpaid bills in your loved one’s home? Have they been giving unusual amounts of money to charity? Heart and lung disease care at home may help take care of those financial issues.

Struggling to Keep Up the Household

Is there spoiled food in the refrigerator? Are the towels or bedsheets soiled? Are there weeds in the usually perfect garden? Home care for heart and lung disease can handle light housekeeping for your loved one.

Taking Too Much or Too Little Medication

Taking too much or too little of important medications can be deadly. If you suspect your loved one isn’t taking their medications properly, home care can help with medication reminders.

They’re Lonely or Struggling with Their Mental Health

Loneliness and depression can significantly impact the lives of people who are already dealing with heart or lung disease. Companion care can have a substantial positive effect on a person’s overall wellbeing when they’re facing a difficult health diagnosis.

References

  1. What Is COPD? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/copd/index.html
  2. Congestive Heart Failure: Prevention, Treatment, and Research, Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/congestive-heart-failure-prevention-treatment-and-research
  3. Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/features/lonely-older-adults.html
  4. How to Assess When an Older Adult Requires Caregiving Assistance, AARP, https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2021/assessing-need-for-caregiver.html
  5. Home Care Services: Questions to Ask, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/home-care-services/art-20044609

At Adult Alternative Home Care Services, our caregivers are here to provide a wide range of home care services without sacrificing quality. Click Get Started or call 1-888-664-1769 today and learn more about all of our home care options.

Skip to content