How Does Shingles Affect Your Loved One, and How You Can Help as a Caregiver in Flowery Branch, GA?

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, will affect one out of every five seniors who have had the chicken pox at some point in their life. Shingles is a painful disease that affects the nerves and causes blisters to appear on the skin. As a caregiver to a loved one who is suffering from the reactivation of chicken pox, you can make a difference as to how the shingles disease will affect him or her.

Once a person has the chicken pox, the varicella virus remains dormant in a nerve root on either side of the spinal cord. The onset of shingles can be triggered by aging, stress, or an impaired immune system.

Once the virus is activated, it will travel along a nerve path to the surface of the skin. Symptoms include tingling, itching, and pain followed by groups of blisters along a band of skin, usually on the shoulder or chest but can sometimes present on the face.

So how can you as a home care provider help your loved one?

Learn about shingles, especially if your loved one has had the chicken pox. Know what the symptoms are so that you can get your loved one treated immediately. If left untreated in the elderly, the disease can cause severe complications particularly in those with a compromised immune system.

• Scarring
• Hepatitis
• Chronic debilitating nerve pain
• Motor paralysis
• Secondary bacterial infection

Is the disease contagious to someone providing home care?

A person with shingles can infect someone else with chicken pox (varicella virus) if they have direct contact with fluid from the blisters. To avoid infecting others, a person with shingles should stay away from:

• Infants
• Pregnant women
• Immune compromised individuals
• People who have not yet had the chicken pox

If you are familiar with the disease and know what to look for, you can get your loved one treatment right away. If treated early, the disease should last only a few weeks.

Is there a way to prevent my loved one from getting shingles?

There is a shingles vaccine that your local pharmacies such as Walgreens or CVS can provide. The vaccine will give your immune system a boost and decrease the risk for developing shingles.

Shingles is more painful and complicated in some seniors than others. As a caregiver, learning about the disease will enable you to protect your loved one from the effects of shingles. Encourage your loved one to get vaccinated.

The caregivers at Home Care Matters are available to talk with you and your family about all of your elder care needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable caregivers in Flowery Branch, GA and the surrounding areas. Call (678) 828-2195 for more information.

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Valerie Darling

Founder, Owner at Home Care Matters

Valerie was born in Miami, FL and after a few family moves, grew up locally in the Marietta, GA area.Valerie is the oldest of 4 (3 younger brothers).She is married and has one child.Valerie is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Home Care Matters.Valerie’s mom, Dee, is the inspiration and primary driver as the how and why the business was born.Valerie says, “My mom is never far from our thoughts.Mom was an integral part of developing and starting HCM before she passed away.Our goal is to stay true to her memory and continue to honor her with the love, values, and ethics she taught us.”

Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”

Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”

You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).

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