More and more elderly individuals are choosing to age inside their own homes. This means that the need for home care has increased in recent years. Home care services extend far beyond the basics. An aide can easily help an elderly patient bathe and organize medications, but home health care can also help the elderly manage pain.

Many elderly individuals suffer from painful conditions like arthritis or nerve damage. Managing these conditions effectively is critical to maintaining an elderly patient's quality of life.

1. Identify Chronic Pain

One of the most valuable ways a home care agency can help with pain management is identifying the onset of chronic pain. A lot of elderly individuals are hesitant to complain about any pain they may be feeling.

A home care aide is able to monitor the movements and facial expressions of a patient to determine when pain is present.

Aides are trained to recognize non-verbal pain indicators. This skill can help them work with an elderly patient's doctor to access prescription pain medications that can alleviate chronic pain.

2. Assist With Dosage

Opioids are prescribed by medical professionals to help manage chronic pain. These medications can be administered as pills, liquids, or skin patches.

It's essential that a patient receives the right dosage of a pain medication. Too few opioids and a patient will still feel a significant amount of pain. Too many opioids can lead to a potentially deadly overdose.

A home care aide can assist elderly patients with the preparation of their medications. This will ensure that the correct dosage is being administered on a daily basis. With a home care aide preparing opioid doses and ensuring each dose is taken as prescribed, an elderly patient's chronic pain can be kept under control.

3. Monitor for Side Effects

All prescription medications have the potential to cause side effects. The opioid medications prescribed to the elderly to manage their chronic pain can cause some serious side effects that may have a negative effect on a person's life.

Home care aides see elderly patients inside their homes on a daily basis. This constant contact allows home care aides to identify small changes before they become full-blown problems.

Side effects like confusion, depression, weakness, or faintness can be spotted quickly by a home care aide. Changes to the prescription opioids taken by an elderly patient can then be made to minimize the impact of side effects.

For more information on home care, contact a local provider such as Elkview General Hospital.