January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month. This is the perfect opportunity for you and your elderly loved one to learn more about the life-saving effects of donating blood, and getting involved in the community around you by making such a donation. As a family caregiver, it is important for you to find ways to help your aging loved one feel more involved in the world around them, and to feel relevant and important. Donating blood is an exceptional way to do this, and educating yourself about it is the first step in making it a part of the meaningful time you spend with your parent.
Some things your senior and you should know about volunteering to donate blood include:
- One blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.
- Someone throughout the United States needs blood every two seconds.
- Less than 38% of the total population of the United States is eligible to donate blood.
- Only around 10% of those who are eligible donate on a regular basis.
- There is no way to artificially manufacture blood or platelets. All of the blood and platelets needed by those who have undergone surgery, have been involved in an accident or other incident that resulted in blood loss, or are dealing with a health issue our other problem requires blood will need to come from a human donor.
- Nearly 21 million units of various blood components are utilized throughout the United States each year.
- There is always a need for all types of blood. While some types are much more rare and will often be specifically asked for during appeals, people with any type of blood who are willing to donate should.
- The actual donation only requires a few minutes.
Being a fantastic family caregiver for your aging parent is about giving them their best life, and this is about more than just helping them deal with health problems and physical challenges. Instead, you should focus on promoting their overall wellness and quality of life, and one of the best ways you can do that is through home care. An in-home senior care services provider offers your aging parent a personalized set of services specifically tailored to them and the type of life they want to live. From transportation to meal preparation to medication reminders to companionship and more, this care provider can be there for your parent to help them make the most of this later stage of their life.
If you or an aging loved one needs home care in Sacramento, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
Sources
https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/common-concerns.html
