Watch Out for Ticks and Your Aging Loved One
If your aging loved one isn’t an outdoor enthusiast anymore, you may think that reading an article about ticks and seniors is a strange combination. However, just because your elderly loved one isn’t out hiking mountain trails doesn’t mean they can’t encounter ticks. Especially in spring and summer in certain parts of the country, it’s definitely time to watch out for ticks and your aging loved one.
Tick Bites and Seniors.
Tick bites can transmit a number of diseases that are particularly life-threatening to the elderly. Among the many diseases they can pick up from ticks are Powassan disease, anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, babesiosis and the African tick bite. Symptoms for these diseases are intensified in elderly victims, and many are even life-threatening. Many of the symptoms can mimic other illnesses, such as headaches, nausea, chills, muscle aches, low appetite and fatigue.
It takes seniors a lot longer to recover from tick-borne diseases and if they are serious enough, they could require intense medical treatments and hospitalization. In some cases, tick-borne diseases can be fatal to seniors that get diagnosed too late. Diseases from tick bites are quite dangerous to the elderly, so you’ll want to help them avoid the possibilities at all costs.
How Do Seniors Get Tick Bites?
Ticks thrive in places with tall weeds, dense shrubs and overgrown grasses. If your aging loved one’s yard is showing signs of neglect, it’s very possible for ticks to be thriving there. It wouldn’t take much for ticks to latch on to your elderly loved one as they spend time in their own backyard. Dogs and cats can also bring ticks into the house and transmit them to a human host. Of course, woodland paths and overgrown trails in parks are also prime places for seniors to pick up ticks.
Tick Prevention.
There are several ways that you can help elderly loved ones avoid encounters with ticks. Of course, enlist the help of elder care aides, other family members and visiting friends. The first thing to do is eliminate the tick’s habitat in the immediate area. Take control of grassy or weed-filled areas that need attention, and trim up shrubs severely to keep them healthy and discourage ticks from calling them home. There are also pest control companies that can put down a tick repellent in the yard to lower the number that may be hiding out just a few feet from the home.
Inspect dogs and cats when they come in from the outside, looking for ticks in their fur. Keep pets away from weed-choked areas in the park or on walks. Finally, help your senior loved one avoid ungroomed natural areas, at least until cooler weather sets in and tick populations decline. Encourage your aging loved one to check themselves for ticks after any nature excursions and ask elder care assistants to be on the lookout as they help with dressing and grooming.
The good news is that with prevention steps in place, you’ll be able to help our elderly loved one greatly reduce the risk of encountering a tick bite. When it comes to their health, you can create a tick-free environment that doesn’t stop your aging loved one from getting outside and enjoying themselves.
If you or someone you know needs help with elder care in Ada, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Source:
http://www.tickbites.net/tick-bites-in-the-elderly-how-dangerous-are-they/
https://www.pet360.com/dog/health/how-to-check-your-dog-for-ticks/4_yvmsL5BEmByuSpK5TWEw
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