January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month.
This is a fantastic opportunity for your aging loved one and you and your role as their family caregiver to give back to the community around you through blood donation. Many aging adults struggle with feeling like they are no longer as relevant to the community, or that they cannot make an impact. Helping them to find ways that they can contribute, can boost their mental and emotional health, and helps them to experience a greater level of motivation in their later years.
Donating blood is a wonderful way to positively impact many lives, but your senior may worry they are not eligible to donate due to health issues, age, or other factors. Reviewing eligibility factors with your senior can help to reassure them that they can make this difference and be a valuable part of saving lives.
While there are many other factors that will need to be considered, some of the basic eligibility requirements for donating blood include:
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- Weighing at least 110 pounds at the time of intended donation.
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- Being in generally good health, which means not having a current infection such as a cold or the flu. It is important to know to that just because you’re senior is struggling with a chronic health issue does not necessarily mean they cannot donate blood. Some medical conditions do disqualify blood donation, but not all. They should discuss their health with their doctor prior to going to the blood donation center, as well as the volunteers and doctors at the blood donation center to make sure they are in good enough health to donate, and that their blood will be usable.
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- Feeling well at the time of donation.
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- Not being on certain medications. It is important to note that not all medications disqualify blood donation. Have your elderly loved one talk to their doctor about the medications that they take and to thoroughly discuss these medications with the volunteers and doctors at the blood donation center to ensure they can safely utilize and process your senior’s blood if they are taking medications.
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- Not having recently traveled to countries or areas that are particularly malaria-prone, or that have had recent outbreaks of certain diseases. This does not necessarily completely preclude donations for your senior but puts them on a waiting period.
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- Having good blood iron.
If your senior has any specific questions about their own health factors and if they are eligible to donate, they should reach out to the organization running the blood drive. They can discuss their individual factors and needs, and determine if blood donation is right for them.
From safe and reliable transportation to meal preparation to medication reminders and more, a home care provider can be an invaluable resource for your elderly loved one and for you as their family caregiver. An in-home senior care services provider is there to give your senior exactly what they need to manage their challenges and promote their best life.
This can mean supporting safer and more confident mobility, encouraging good lifestyle choices such as eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated, providing medication reminders to keep them compliant, and even just being there as a companion to boost their mental and emotional health and offer a more satisfying lifestyle as they age in place.
For more information about hiring a Home Health Care in Pacific Beach, CA, call the friendly caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare who can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, at 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.
Source:
Today we are the oldest and most experienced private duty agency in San Diego County.She saw a need for quality private duty home health care and she worked diligently to build an agency that filled that need.I am proud to say, her vision is carried on today with our dedicated staff.
I believe our tenure in the community speaks well for us.We have had the opportunity to be of service to countless interesting individuals, including local and worldwide celebrities.It is the people we care for that makes this a fascinating industry.Whether high profile or a more ordinary citizen, we are proud that thousands have entrusted us with their care or the care of their loved ones.Our Mission is to provide high quality, very secure and the most compassionate home health care.We believe that patients heal faster and are happiest when they can stay in their homes.”
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