Is Your Loved One at Risk of Restless Leg Syndrome?

In your role as a family caregiver, one of the most important tools that you can use to ensure that you are giving your elderly parent the level of care that they really need is awareness. Being aware of the risks that your aging parent faces is critical to being able to help them minimize those risks, but also to be prepared for health complications and conditions if they do occur. This allows you to be vigilant about looking for symptoms of conditions that they might develop and then to modify your care routine to ensure that they are getting the care and support that is truly right for them.

One condition that is experienced by a large number of people, approximately 10 percent of the total adult population, but is often overlooked, is Restless Leg Syndrome. Also known as RLS, this condition impacts the nervous system and causes an irresistible urge to move the legs. This often occurs at night, impacting sleep, which is why it is frequently thought of as a sleep disorder.

Some of the factors that might increase the risk that your aging parent will develop RLS include:

• Age. Though RLS can and does occur at any age, including in childhood, it occurs more frequently in older adults. The risk for developing this condition increases with age as well.

• Sex. Both men and women are at risk for developing RLS, but women are more likely than men to develop the condition.

• Peripheral neuropathy. Certain medical conditions can increase the risk that your parent will develop this condition. One such condition is peripheral neuropathy. This causes damage to the nerves in their feet and hands and increases the chances that they will experience RLS.

• Kidney failure. Another health complication that increases the chances that your senior will experience RLS is kidney failure. This can result in iron deficiency and iron stores in the blood. These changes in body chemistry can contribute to increased risk of developing Restless Legs Syndrome, or worsen the condition if it has already developed.

If your aging parent has recently been diagnosed with a medical condition or health complication such as Restless Leg Syndrome, or they are showing new or worsened symptoms or challenges, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting elder care for them. Hiring an elderly home care services provider is a way for you to ensure that your parent is getting everything that they need, filling any care gaps that might exist in the care efforts that you give them and providing a highly personalized set of services tailored to them as an individual. This care provider can help your parent to manage their individual needs, assisting them in fulfilling their activities of daily living, providing safe and reliable transportation when needed, and offering companionship and support that encourages them to stay active, engaged, and independent, and to see as much meaning in this new chapter of life as possible.

https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/restless-legs-syndrome
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/basics/symptoms/con-20031101
http://www.webmd.com/brain/restless-legs-syndrome/restless-legs-syndrome-rls#1
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Restless-Legs-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet

If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in East Brunswick, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care of New Brunswick today. Call (732) 607-8870.