When an older adult is diagnosed with high blood pressure, you may think that once the doctor has prescribed medication, no further care is needed. After all, high blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms, so there isn’t any pain or other problems to keep under control, right? Wrong. The truth is that the key to keeping high blood pressure under control is quality follow up care.

Why is Follow Up Care Necessary?

It can take some time to get the kinds of blood pressure medicines and the dosages right. Each person is an individual, so one person may not respond the same to a medication as the next person. Follow up care allows the doctor to keep track of how well treatment is working and suggest changes when needed.

Over time, it’s possible for treatment to need changes because of the way the body changes with age. Arteries often harden, which makes systolic pressure go up. As a result, the treatment that once worked for your older family member may not work anymore.

What Does Follow Up Care Include?

Follow up care for high blood pressure allows doctors the chance to keep tabs on the health of your aging relative. In addition to checking their blood pressure each time, the doctor will also:

• Answer questions about high blood pressure and clarify what blood pressure readings mean.
• Screen for damage to other systems that may be caused by high blood pressure, such as damage to the brain, eyes, and kidneys.
• Talk to the senior about side effects from medications. The doctor can help them to cope with the side effects or make changes to their treatment.
• Monitor other risk factors associated with high blood pressure, such as cholesterol and obesity.

How Can Seniors Better Collaborate with Doctors?

Treatment for high blood pressure should be a collaboration between the doctor, patient, and family caregivers. Some tips to help seniors work as a team with their doctor are:

• Monitor blood pressure at home and keep a log of the results.
• Educate themselves about high blood pressure, what affects it, and what the numbers mean.
• Be patient and flexible since it can take some time to find the right treatment protocol.

Senior care can help your aging relative to manage high blood pressure and continue with follow up care. A senior care provider can assist with blood pressure monitoring, reminding the older adult to sit properly to ensure accurate readings and writing down the results. Senior care providers can also remind them to take their medications. Missing doses can make blood pressure rise and make it more difficult to tell if treatment is working.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Senior Care in Richardson, TX please contact the caring staff at Sunlife Home Care today at (877) 888-1311.

Sources

https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/high-blood-pressure-follow-up-care

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/partnering-with-your-doctor-to-treat-high-blood-pressure