If your senior mom has been diagnosed with diabetes, she’s not alone. Research shows that more than 25% of seniors over the age of 65 have diabetes. That’s a shocking statistic for most family caregivers. Diabetes can be managed, usually with a combination of lifestyle choices and medications. But, if your elderly mother is living on her own, she may need help making those lifestyle changes and managing her medications. Home care for seniors can help her make the changes she needs to make to be healthy at home.
Home care for seniors can help your mom make healthy choices and learn more about diabetes. And a home care provider can also help your mom manage diabetes by assisting her with things like:
Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
A home care provider can remind your mom to check her blood sugar regularly and learn how to read the results accurately by following doctor’s instructions. They can help her learn to use a glucose monitor and keep a log of the results. This information is essential for doctors to adjust medication or treatment plans as needed. And during the learning phase, a home care provider can be there to help your mom if her blood sugar goes too high or too low.
Assisting with Meal Planning and Preparation
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is key to managing diabetes. It’s the number one thing that seniors can do to live well with diabetes. Home care providers can help your mom create meal plans that are nutritious and aligned with her doctor’s recommendations.
They can also prepare meals, help your mom learn correct portion sizes, and make sure she’s eating healthy snacks when necessary. Helping your mom adapt to planning and eating healthier meals will help her manage her diabetes on her own.
Medication Management
Many people with diabetes need to take medications like insulin or pills at specific times. A home care provider can help by reminding your mom when it’s time to take her medications and ensuring she follows her prescribed schedule.
A care provider can also provide the emotional support your mom may need while she’s learning to take insulin or other medications.
Encouraging Regular Movement
Staying active is challenging for a lot of seniors, especially if they have mobility challenges. But moving as much as possible is very helpful for seniors trying to manage diabetes. A home care provider can encourage your mom to move more by playing games with her like balloon volleyball or beanbag toss.
Providing Emotional Support and Education
Living with diabetes can feel overwhelming at times. A home care provider can help your mom by listening to her talk about her feelings, working with her to find out more about diabetes, and helping her learn what foods she should be eating.
Just having the support of someone in the house with her each day can help your mom stay on track making the changes she needs to make to manage diabetes at home.
Sources:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/diabetes/diabetes-older-people#
https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/35/12/2650/38582/Diabetes-in-Older-Adults
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Naperville, IL, please contact the caring staff at Suburban Home Care today at (630) 964-9000.
There are several great reasons why Suburban Home Care® should be your choice for quality homecare. All of our Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides are screened, trained, bonded and insured.
Every family needs to be aware that almost every Homeowner’s insurance policy specifically excludes anyone working within your home. If the person you hire becomes injured while working for you, you will become personally responsible for all of their medical bills. This has left several families very vulnerable when their caregiver injured themselves at their home.
The potential to lose everything you have worked so hard to achieve seems an unnecessary risk. Every one of Suburban Home Care®’s employees are completely covered by insurance so you and your loved ones can relax knowing that if something unforeseen happens to your caregiver, they are completely covered by insurance.
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