Food allergies have become a very popular topic in recent years with the news filled with new rules at schools and other public locations regarding allergies, and changes in product labeling ensuring that all of the common allergens are listed carefully. If you are like most people, when you think about food allergies you think of children who are dealing with these challenges. As a family caregiver, however, it is extremely important that you recognize that while food allergies are more common in children and often disappear as people get older, they can and do occur in, and sometimes develop in, adults as well. Understanding food allergies is an important part of making sure that you can care for your elderly loved one safely.
May is Food Allergy Action Month. This is the ideal time for you to learn more about food allergies, how they can impact your parent, and the care that you should give them to help them manage these and their other challenges as they age in place.
Some things that you should know about food allergies include:
• Approximately 30 percent of adults throughout the United States suffer from some form of allergy, including food allergies
• Approximately 200,000 emergency room visits are caused by food allergies each year
• Food allergies result in 10,000 people having to be admitted into the hospital for further treatment
• The elderly are one of the two most vulnerable demographics when it comes to deadly allergic reactions
• The majority of people with food allergies are allergic to foods in a group referred to as the “Big 8”
• The Big 8 foods including eggs, milk, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish
• Peanuts are the most common food-related allergen
• Milk is the second-most common food-related allergen
• Shellfish is the third-most common food-related allergen
• Approximately 5 to 10 percent of elderly adults have food allergies
• Allergies can and do develop at any point during life, including during the senior years
• Physical changes in the body during aging can contribute to the development of food allergies
• Elderly adults are less likely to die from food allergies than younger people, so these allergies are often overlooked
If your aging parent has been struggling with needs or challenges that are making it more difficult for them to live a healthy, comfortable, and fulfilling quality of life as they age in place, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting senior care for them. A senior home care services provider can be with your aging loved one on a customized schedule that is right for their needs. They will work with you to ensure that they are with your parent as frequently and for as long as they need to give them the highly personalized set of services that is right for them. These will be tailored not just to their needs, challenges, and limitations, but also your parent’s personality, goals, thoughts, and preferences. This helps ensure that they are not just managing their needs, but also helping them to live a lifestyle that is as independent, active, and fulfilling as possible throughout their later years. Because this care is completely personalized to your aging loved one, you can feel confident that they will receive services that are what they need while also remaining safe.
Source
http://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/0515p8.shtml
http://www.aafa.org/page/allergy-facts.aspx
http://www.aafa.org/page/asthma-and-allergy-awareness-month.aspx
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME SENIOR CARE IN LAS VEGAS, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE. CALL TODAY 702-800-4616.