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Author: Bill Spearson

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s a great time to learn more about how lung cancer affects seniors, and how it might affect your senior parent. Did you know that the average age that someone gets diagnosed with lung cancer is 70? It’s true, seniors have a high risk of lung cancer.

And lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is responsible for 1 in 5 cancer deaths in the United States. There are over 200,000 lung cancer diagnoses each year, and most of those new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed in seniors over 65.

If you have a senior parent that is diagnosed with lung cancer, that means they could be living on their own and battling lung cancer. Home care can help your parent continue to live independently during their treatment.

How Home Care Can Help Seniors With Cancer

During lung cancer treatment, your senior parent will probably need help keeping up with household chores, running errands, and getting to their medical appointments. Home care can help your parent take care of the household management and get wherever they need to go. This can be especially helpful if you can’t take time off work to take your parent to their treatment.

Home care is a great way to support your senior parent while they are sick. Lung cancer symptoms, and treatment, can make life at home harder for seniors because:

They Get Winded More Easily

One of the biggest problems with lung cancer is how it affects breathing. The lungs don’t work as well, so seniors may feel short of breath doing things that never used to be a problem, like climbing stairs, walking across the room, or even talking for too long.

 This can make everyday tasks feel exhausting. They might have to stop and rest often, which slows them down and may make them feel frustrated or helpless. Home care can provide the extra help your parent needs so they can rest.

Treatment Can Cause Dizziness or Nausea

Many seniors with lung cancer go through treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. These treatments can have side effects like dizziness, nausea, or weakness. Feeling dizzy can be dangerous, especially if they live alone, because one fall can lead to a serious injury. Nausea can also lead to loss of appetite, weight loss, and poor nutrition, which makes it even harder for their body to stay strong during treatment.

Less Energy for Housework and Chores

When someone has lung cancer, they often feel tired all the time. This kind of fatigue is different from just feeling sleepy. It doesn’t go away with rest and can last all day.

For seniors, this means tasks like cleaning, doing laundry, or grocery shopping can feel impossible. They may struggle to keep their home clean or take care of themselves the way they used to. Home care providers can make sure your parent is living in a clean and sanitary home.

Risk of Depression or Anxiety

Living alone with a serious illness like lung cancer can take a toll on mental health. Seniors may feel scared, lonely, or unsure of what’s ahead. They might worry about being a burden to others or not being able to care for themselves.

These feelings can lead to depression or anxiety, which can make their physical health even worse. They may lose interest in eating, socializing, or keeping up with daily routines.

Trouble Keeping Track of Medications and Appointments

Managing lung cancer often means taking multiple medications and going to many doctor visits. For seniors living alone, it can be hard to keep track of pills, side effects, and appointments. Missing a dose or forgetting a check-up could lead to serious problems. Some may also have memory issues that make managing their health even more complicated.

Source: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

If your aging loved one is considering home care in Lowell, IN, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers Home Care of NW Indiana today at (219) 244-2533.

Home Helpers Home Care of NW Indiana provides exceptional home and facility care for seniors in Highland, Munster, Crown Point, Schererville, Dyer, Saint John, Valparaiso, Cedar Lake, Griffith, Lowell, and the surrounding areas.