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Rare Disease Day: Five Rare Diseases That Affect the Elderly

Skilled Nursing Care Tamarac FL-February 28th's Rare Disease Day helps people better understand some of these less common illnesses and conditions. Skilled nursing care services can cover medical needs.

You know all about diseases like pneumonia, arthritis, and high blood pressure. But, there are rare diseases that are lesser known. February 28th’s Rare Disease Day helps people better understand some of these less common illnesses and conditions. Skilled nursing care services can cover medical needs.

Skilled Nursing Care Tamarac FL – Rare Disease Day: Five Rare Diseases That Affect the Elderly

When your elderly parent is diagnosed with a rare disease, it can be alarming. You know nothing about the disease or what their life is going to look like as your loved one undergoes treatment, if treatment is even an option.

Before you panic, learn more about five rare diseases that affect the elderly.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is one of the more common causes of vertigo. It causes severe dizziness when rapidly changing position, such as sitting up in bed or standing up from a chair. It’s not a serious condition, but it does increase the risk of falling, which is why it’s concerning in older adults.

As older adults may already struggle with balance, BPPV can increase the risk of a fall even more. If your mom is diagnosed with BPPV, she needs someone with her when she gets out of bed or stands up after sitting for a while.

Bullous Pemphigoid

This skin condition isn’t common, but its appearance can be alarming. When a person has bullous pemphigoid, large fluid-filled blisters appear suddenly. The blisters are often found on the thighs, armpits, and abdomen.

As the blisters could rub on clothing and pop, they must be adequately cared for to avoid infection. They can be a side effect of medications, so it’s important to talk to your mom’s doctor about other options if these blisters are forming.

Cardiac Amyloidosis

This heart condition occurs when amyloid proteins take up space in the muscle of the heart. “Stiff Heart Syndrome” makes it hard for the heart to function properly. IV or injected medications may be required to protect the heart from damage.

Corticobasal Syndrome

With this condition, the nerve cells in the area of the brain where movements are processed start to die off. Movements become stiff and jerky, and communication skills can be impacted. Physical therapy and speech therapy are often used in addition to oral medications.

Felty’s Syndrome

Felty’s Syndrome is rare but it can manifest in people with rheumatoid arthritis. The spleen becomes enlarged and white cell counts plummet. It can make it hard for the immune system to properly fight off infections and diseases.

As you learn more from your mom’s medical team, you’ll be able to create a plan that supports her at home. Sit down with other family members and close family friends and discuss the care she needs. Skilled nursing care services would be helpful to assist in the care.

Whether your mom will have regular IV infusions of a medication or surgical incisions that require wound care, skilled nurses come to her home to help out. Talk to our skilled nursing care specialist to learn more.

If you or a family member need to hire Skilled Nursing Care Services in Tamarac FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. We provide service in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Margate, Pompano Beach, and Tamarac.

Stephen Sternbach

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