What is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

March is National Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month. This is the ideal opportunity for you as a family caregiver to learn more about this often confusing and complex disorder and how you can help your senior to cope with the potentially devastating symptoms and consequences of this condition.

This starts with being able to recognize the potential signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, often abbreviated as CFS, so you can detect if your parent might be suffering from it. This will enable you to get your parent the medical care they need to handle the condition and to structure your homecare routine around supporting their quality of life even as they deal with their symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Some of the signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome include:

Marked, severe fatigue that is not eased by sleeping
Needing more than eight hours of sleep each night just to feel functional
Taking an hour or more to adjust from sleeping to awake activity
Waking up feeling exhausted or drained despite getting enough sleep
Frequent headaches
Sensitivity to heat or cold
Muscle aches
Increased susceptibility to bruising
Dizziness, particularly after standing for a time
Difficulty thinking or concentrating
Feeling as though you have no energy
Feeling as though you cannot tolerate standing for long and having the strong urge to lie down after standing for more than a few minutes
Forgetting words or having difficulty communicating effectively
Sore throat
Swollen lymph nodes

In total there are around 60 symptoms and signs attributed to chronic fatigue syndrome.

It is important to note that each person who deals with this condition can have an individual set of symptoms that may be completely different from those of another person with the condition.

This is why it is so important to bring your parent to the doctor if you notice changes in their energy, strength, motivation, or functioning so they can get a diagnosis and start managing their symptoms effectively.

Contact Sonas for Home Health Care Services in Florida

If your aging loved one has been suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome or has been suffering from challenging symptoms that have negatively impacted their health and quality of life, now may be the ideal time for you to start elder home care for them.

An elderly home care services provider can be with your parent to provide a highly customized course of care, support, encouragement, and assistance tailored to their individual needs and challenges. They can understand the specific limitations and issues your parent is facing as a result of their health concerns and develop a care routine that addresses these issues but also supports a lifestyle that is as independent, active, and fulfilling as possible as they age in place.

The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome can be very challenging and make a serious impact on their lifestyle, but this home care provider can be there for your parent to help them overcome their symptoms and engage in a more active life as is right for them. This can support better physical, mental, and emotional health throughout their later years.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home care services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today (888) 592-5855.

Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360490

Jillian Miller BSN, RN

Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care

This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them.