Helping Seniors Manage Diabetes at Home in Milford, MA
As your loved one grows older, age-related factors can make it difficult for them to do the things they used to be able to do, including the “activities of daily living” that we all take for granted. This can be especially true if your loved one is dealing with other health concerns, such as diabetes.
While managing diabetes can be challenging for anyone, it is even more so for the elderly. Getting older often comes with reduced mobility, vision difficulties, and memory-related challenges. This combination of factors can make it harder for an elderly person to start and maintain a consistent treatment plan than it might be for someone at a younger age.
Managing diabetes involves more than simply monitoring blood sugar; it may require a lifestyle change that includes healthy eating and exercising, juggling multiple medications, and finding reliable transportation to get to and from doctor appointments. These requirements may be overwhelming for an elderly person to manage on their own. Fortunately, with the right in-home care support that can help them establish a daily routine, your senior loved one will be able to manage their diabetes and continue living safely and comfortably in their own home.
Diabetes Care: Understanding the Basics
Glucose is the primary source of energy for our cells. Diabetes is a long-term condition that affects how the body handles glucose. In type 2 diabetes, a type that is particularly common among seniors, the body struggles to produce enough insulin (or becomes resistant to it), which leads to elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream.
Some of the common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, extreme hunger, and frequent urination. Other common symptoms include blurry vision, fatigue, slow-healing sores or cuts, and unintended weight loss.
How to Manage Your Senior’s Diabetes Care at Home
A lot more goes into managing diabetes effectively than simply tracking blood sugar. Your loved one’s doctor can perform a simple blood test called A1C to monitor blood sugar levels and regular testing can help “fine-tune” treatment plans to keep glucose levels within a healthy range, preventing complications. Combined with healthy eating, staying active, and managing medication, your loved one’s diabetes can be managed at home.
If this is too much for your elderly senior to manage on their own, you may want to consider hiring a home caregiver to help. Some of the ways they can help include:
1. Promoting Healthy Eating
Healthy eating is crucial to helping to control blood sugar levels. A caregiver can assist with tasks such as meal planning, grocery shopping, meal preparation, and even maintaining a food diary to help promote healthy eating habits.
2. Monitoring Blood Sugar
Seniors living with type 2 diabetes may need to check their blood sugar levels throughout the day. A caregiver can provide reminders to check blood sugar levels and offer support throughout the day to ensure glucose monitoring remains consistent.
3. Medication Management
Many seniors take multiple medications and some need to be taken at different times during the day or with food. While automated reminders and medication dispensers can help, a caregiver can remind seniors to take their medications as prescribed, and even pick up prescriptions from local pharmacies in Milford. They can also keep track of any changes in mood or behavior so it can be discussed with their doctor.
4. Conduct Foot Checks Regularly
Diabetes can reduce blood circulation in the feet which can lead to complications such as pain or numbness. It can also lead to an increased risk of falls, so it’s very important that regular visual checks of their feet are conducted to look for signs of swelling, redness, or wounds. A caregiver can perform daily visual checks and report any concerns to a supervisor, ensuring timely action is taken.
5. Schedule and Provide Transportation to and from Medical Appointments
Routine medical checkups are a crucial part of diabetes management. A personal caregiver can help seniors in Milford schedule and get to and from appointments safely, assist with gathering follow-up instructions, and remind them about future visits.
6. Encourage Physical Activity and Social Engagement
A caregiver can encourage physical activity and re-engage seniors in hobbies that they enjoy, helping to prevent social isolation and depression.
Let Visiting Angels Milford Provide Diabetes Support for Your Loved One
When diabetes complicates a senior’s daily life, professional in-home care from Visiting Angels Milford is just a phone call away. Even if you need occasional respite care, partnering with our trusted caregivers can make a significant difference for both you and your loved one.
Contact us today to learn how Visiting Angels Milford can help your loved one manage diabetes and maintain a comfortable life at home while giving you peace of mind.