Preparing Your Senior to Donate Blood

By Robert D. Liken CPC, CTS, President

December 28, 2018

A single donation of blood has the potential to save the lives of three individual people. Studies have shown that while approximately 38% of the total population of the United States can donate blood at any given time, only approximately 10% of those who are eligible give blood on an annual basis, and even fewer donate more frequently.

Home Health Care in Monroeville PA: Senior Blood Donation
Home Health Care in Monroeville PA: Senior Blood Donation


If your elderly loved one wants to make a difference in the lives of others and participate in the community around them by donating blood, one of the best things you can do as a family caregiver is to give them the education they need to understand the process and make the decision that is right for them. Taking the time to prepare your parent for the process can ease any anxiety they might have, help them to feel more in control, and know they have done everything they should to be ready for this process.


Use these tips to help you prepare your senior to donate blood:

-Talk to their doctor to make sure their health is in a good enough condition for it to be safe and healthy to donate. Even after you have had this conversation, it is important to still talk to the doctors and volunteers at the blood donation center about any health concerns your senior might have.

-Put together a list of all the medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, your parent takes on a regular basis, along with any treatments they regularly undergo. It is important to provide this information to the doctors at the blood donation center to determine eligibility as well as other important factors about the donation.

-Encourage your senior to get properly hydrated in the days leading up to the donation, and to drink an extra couple of glasses of water prior to going to donate. This not only helps reduce the risk of feeling woozy, but it also promotes faster replacement of the blood being donated.

-Encourage your senior to eat an iron-rich diet leading up to the donation. Foods such as fish, leafy greens, beast, and enriched grains all contain iron that is lost through blood donation. Eating these foods helps your senior to maintain and regain their strength.


-Make sure your parent knows to tell someone if they feel faint after the donation. This is not uncommon and is easy to manage.


You are never alone when you are a family caregiver.
Senior care is available to give you the support you need to make sure your aging parent stays safe, healthy, and comfortable as they age in place.

A senior home care services provider can step in to manage specific tasks for your parent on a schedule that works for you and for your loved one. This means they can have the independence and freedom they crave, You can experience less stress, and you both can feel confident in the fulfillment of their needs during their later years.

If you are considering hiring Home Health Care in Monroeville PA, please contact the friendly staff at Liken Home Care. Call (412) 693-6820 or (855) 856-0551.

Source:
Redcrossblood.org