Home care or elsewhere?

June 14,2016 / Oliver Admin

When a senior’s diabetes is not properly cared for, it could result in complications such as heart disease and stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputation.

If you are concerned that your loved one may need help keeping up with his or her diabetes care, hire an in-home caregiver to assist. Here are a few ways a caregiver can help:

• A senior with reduced vision may not see a small foot sore that could quickly develop into a major problem. An in-home caregiver can inspect the diabetic’s feet daily and can coordinate care with the physician if attention is required.
• An in-home caregiver can provide proper nutrition through the planning and preparation of tasty, diabetic-appropriate meals.
• An in-home caregiver can assist with a physician-approved exercise program.
• An in-home caregiver can provide reminders for glucose testing and can schedule regular physician checkups.

Coping with diabetes requires a reasonably high level of cognitive or mental function, given the need to follow a treatment plan that includes diet, exercise, and medication components as well as blood sugar testing and other self-care measures. Additionally, those with diabetes have a higher incidence of both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, making it even harder for them to perform multiple, complex tasks. Even garden-variety memory loss associated with aging can impact how well a person deals with diabetes.

Because proper diabetes management is so vital, having a home caregiver to assist with medication reminders and proper diet can make a significant difference in a loved one’s diabetic care. Contact Oliver Home Healthcare in Austin, TX at 512-482-0499 to learn more about how we can help.