Live-In Pleural Effusion Care | Pleural Effusion Care Within the Security and Comforts of Home
Pleural effusion is a life-threatening health condition that requires treatment and vigilant efforts to stay one step ahead of the illness. People who live alone, especially older adults, face the challenges of doing what is medically necessary to overcome pleural effusion while caring for their daily personal needs.
At FCP-Live In, we step in to provide customized care so adults can live independently in the comfort and security of their homes. Our full-service in-home care agency helps older adults as they navigate the complications of pleural effusion and any other illnesses associated with the health condition.
We offer a wide range of services that include:
Personal Care Services
- Assist with grooming, dressing, bathing, showering, feeding
- Toileting and incontinence care
- Assistance with safe trips to the bathroom at night
- Assist with mobility
- Medication reminders
Light Housekeeping Services
- Grocery shopping
- Preparing nutritious meals
- Making and changing beds
- Laundry
- Provide transportation, run errands
- Changing and making beds
- Sweeping and vacuuming floors
- Clean kitchen and bathrooms
Companion Services
- Accompany client to medical appointments
- Accompany client to social and recreational activities
- Encourage exercise, including walks outside
- Provide emotional support and companionship
For more than two decades, our highly skilled caregivers have provided quality care and ensured the well-being of our clients. To learn more about how FCP Live-In’s Pleural Effusion Care can help your loved one, contact us today. Call 1 (866) 559-9492.
Pleural Effusion, Its Causes and Symptoms
Pleural effusion affects children and adults of all ages. The condition occurs when excess fluid builds up between the lungs and the chest, an area called the “pleural space.” Pleural effusion is commonly known as “water on the lung.”
The build-up in the pleural space comes from fluid that surrounds the lungs. Lining the lungs are thin membranes called “pleura.” These membranes maintain a small amount of fluid between the chest and the lungs. The fluid helps the lungs to move freely against the chest wall when a person is breathing.
A serious health disorder can cause pleural effusion which means the person not only receives treatment for the health disorder but also for pleural effusion. There are several types of pleural effusion and the two most common are:
Transudative pleural effusion. This type of pleural effusion occurs when fluid leaks across the pleura. Common causes include congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and pulmonary embolism.
Exudative pleural effusion. This type develops due to inflammation, infection, blocked blood vessels or lymph vessels, lung injury or tumors. Common causes of exudative pleural effusion include pneumonia, kidney disease, tuberculosis, and pulmonary embolism.
Other serious health disorders can cause pleural effusion including cancer, and surgical procedures involving the chest
Symptoms of pleural effusion
Without a doctor’s diagnosis, some people may not realize that they have pleural effusion because they do not experience symptoms.
On the other hand, some pleural effusion symptoms are similar to symptoms common in certain lung disorders. So, people with lung disorders may have symptoms of pleural effusion but believe the symptoms stem from the lung disorder. A doctor can determine the differences through chest X-rays and other tests.
Some of the most common symptoms of pleural effusion include:
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing when lying down
- Dry cough
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Unable to take deep breaths or feeling pain when taking deep breaths
Pleural effusion and any associated illnesses can leave older adults weak and in need of daily assistance. At FCP Live-In, our caregivers offer compassion while providing personalized services for our clients with pleural effusion.
Pleural Effusion Worsens With Cancer Diagnosis
Cancer patients are at a higher risk for serious complications with pleural effusion if they receive traditional cancer treatments. This is because radiation therapy and chemotherapy can cause fluid build-up.
What’s worse is when pleural effusion becomes malignant when cancer spreads and grows in the pleural space. There have been cases of this happening with patients with ovarian, breast, and lung cancer, and lymphoma.
While malignant pleural effusion is treatable, doctors must find the best way of treating the disorder along with the cancer that caused it.
One of the most common treatments is draining the malignant pleural fluid. This can be done by inserting a catheter into the pleural space or inserting a tube into the chest. Regardless of the type of treatment used, pleural effusion can potentially return and require further treatment.
Cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion can benefit from in-home caregiving services. A caregiver can transport the patient to medical appointments, help the patient with medication reminders, and provide other services to help the patient remain in a familiar environment while recovering from pleural effusion.
Thousands Hospitalized Yearly Due to Malignant Pleural Effusion
Malignant pleural effusion affects about 150,000 people annually and accounts for 125,000 hospital admissions each year, according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS). Sadly, patients with malignant pleural effusion live an average of four to seven months after diagnosis, the ATS reports.
A study cited in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine found that breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men make up about 75 percent of all malignant pleural effusion cases. What’s more, malignant pleural effusion accounts for 44 percent to 77 percent of exudative effusions.
Meanwhile, ATS estimates that 1 million people in the United States develop pleural effusion each year. Although the condition is treatable, cancer or other health conditions can cause it to return.
When pleural effusion recurs, doctors may use a procedure called, “pleurodesis,” to stick the two membranes surrounding the lungs together to prevent fluid from building up again in the pleural space. About 100,000 people undergo pleurodesis treatment each year, according to the ATS.
In-Home Care an Option for Your Loved One
Caring for an elderly loved one with pleural effusion and the health disorder that caused it can become overwhelming. Your loved may have frequent doctor visits, undergo various medical treatments, follow a medication schedule and other requirements for recovery.
If you do not have the ability to handle daily caregiving responsibilities, you might consider moving your loved one into a long-term care facility. The move, however, may not be best for your loved one.
Your loved one’s quality of life can diminish even further when living in an unfamiliar environment with strangers. And, your loved one has to wait each day for a staff member to help with dressing, grooming and other personal care.
In addition, long-term care in an assisted living facility or a nursing home can become expensive over time and drain your loved one’s budget and potentially your own if you are financially supporting your loved one.
If your loved one wants to continue to live independently, in-home caregiving may be the answer. Not only is it more affordable, but an in-home care agency can provide the same services as a long-term care facility. Most importantly, in-home caregivers can give the personal attention and customized care your loved one needs each day.
About FCP Live-In And Our Pleural Effusion Care Services
We have provided the ultimate solution for assisted Pleural Effusion Care services since 1997. Our live-in Pleural Effusion Care services agency is committed to providing a unique and customized In-Home Pleural Effusion Care services approach to senior care with the goal of a lifestyle that provides enjoyment for the one in care, and families with peace of mind.
FCP Live-In is a Live-In Home Care company with over two decades of experience specializing in elderly care needs within the home. Our live-in caregiver staff provides an insurance policy of safe and supportive care, along with a 24/7 professional support system that is there for the client and the live-in caregiver at all times.
For more information about our Pleural Effusion Care services, contact FCP Live-In today at 1 (866) 559-9492 or please fill out the form below.
Source Links:
https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/breathing-in-america/resources/chapter-14-pleural-disease.pdf
https://www.thoracic.org/about/newsroom/press-releases/journal/2018/new-guideline-recommends-minimally-invasive-ways-of-treating-malignant-pleural-effusions.php
https://www.mdedge.com/ccjm/article/193361/pulmonology/managing-malignant-pleural-effusion
https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/breathing-in-america/resources/chapter-14-pleural-disease.pdf
https://www.thoracic.org/patients/patient-resources/breathing-in-america/resources/chapter-14-pleural-disease.pdf