How to Help Aging Adults Address Pancreatic Cancer

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When a senior is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, it’s important to take steps toward treating the disease and preventing additional complications. Knowing which measures to prioritize can be overwhelming, but the following tips are designed to help seniors and their caregivers address pancreatic cancer. 

 

Optimize Nutrition

The pancreas plays an important role in the digestive system, and any damage to this organ can have a major impact on the body’s ability to break down and absorb nutrients. Seniors who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer should consider contacting dietitians to discuss dietary guidelines. As a general rule, seniors with cancer should drink plenty of water and avoid sweets, alcoholic beverages, and greasy foods. 

If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Orlando families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

 

Find the Right Combination of Treatments

Over half of all seniors will develop some form of cancer in their lifetimes. Though these numbers are staggering, we still know very little about how pancreatic cancer affects older adults and which treatments are the most effective. Seniors should seek out multiple opinions and work closely with their oncologists to make sure they’ve been correctly diagnosed and are receiving the most effective treatments. Some seniors benefit from a combination of treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.

If you’re the primary family caregiver for a senior loved one living in Orlando, live-in care is available if your loved one’s health has become too difficult to manage without professional expertise. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we take measures to help seniors prevent illness and injury by assisting with exercise and mobility, preparing nutritious meals, helping with bathing and other personal hygiene tasks, and much more.

 

Prepare for Diabetes

A healthy pancreas produces enough insulin to digest food and regulate blood sugar levels. After the cancerous cells have damaged the pancreas, seniors have a very high risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to a lack of insulin. In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and exercising as much as possible, seniors should also speak with their doctors about additional diabetes treatments, such as insulin shots and patches. 

 

Develop a Comprehensive Pain Management Plan

Even if your loved one doesn’t have surgery for pancreatic cancer, there’s still a good chance he or she will experience some discomfort. Because of their unwanted side effects, prescription painkillers should only be used as a temporary solution. Other techniques for managing long-term pain include meditation, deep breathing, exercise, massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture. Professional home caregivers can help seniors maintain optimal health and address the symptoms of a variety of illnesses. One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide homecare services. Turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties. Call one of our Care Specialists today to learn about our customized in-home care plans.