Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
A DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, such as those in the legs, pelvis, and thighs. If your loved one has a high risk of developing a DVT because of various health conditions, you may want to consider a companion care at home provider to help seek ways to prevent a DVT from occurring. While a DVT can occur with no symptoms, the most common symptoms of a DVT are:
- A swelling in one leg that doesn’t affect the other limb
- If a leg feels warm when touched
- The leg changes color and becomes more red or purple
- A sudden cramp or soreness that often begins in the calf muscle
If your loved one is more likely to develop DVTs because of health conditions, there is one main risk factor that may increase his odds of developing a DVT – a lack of mobility. If your loved one is not able to be mobile, either temporarily or for the long term, there are steps you and your companion care at home team can take to reduce the risk of your loved one developing a DVT.
Recovery from a Surgery or Illness
If your loved one is on bedrest due to surgery or long-term illness, you and your companion care at home team will want to take measures to help prevent DVTs from forming in his legs. DVTs are dangerous because a part of the blood clot can break off and head to the lungs, causing a Pulmonary Embolism, which can have serious side effects and lead to death.
Here are a few steps to reduce the risk of DVTs from a bed-bound loved one:
- If possible, have your companion care at home provider help move her legs around throughout the day. If she can, encourage her to lift them up, stretch out her calves, and bend her knees. All of these will help keep blood flowing.
- Avoid crossing her knees or feet when resting.
- Give her compression socks to wear and keep blood flowing. The pressure from the socks prevents the blood from pooling and clotting.
If your loved one is mobile but at risk for developing DVTs, then a long stretch of travel may be a concern, but can also be dealt with to reduce the risk of DVT.
- If traveling by plane, have your loved one stand frequently and walk up and down the rows when it’s safe to be without a seatbelt. If you can request a seat, choose an aisle seat so she can stretch out her legs and move about easily.
- If traveling by car, make frequent stretch breaks so your loved one can get out and get the blood flowing to her lower legs.
- For both, while seated, your loved one can do lower leg exercises that stretch her calves.
- For both, she can wear compression socks while traveling to provide those same benefits as listed above.
- If any symptoms of DVT occur, seek medical help as soon as possible.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home in Hackensack, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Applause Home Care today. Call (201) 326-8051
Applause Home Care provides independent, non-franchised quality Home Care for elders and families in and around Fort Lee, Hackensack, Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Paramus, Glen Rock, Pompton Plains, Franklin Lakes, Westwood, Montvale, and Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
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