Diabetes Home Care
When a senior loved one is living with diabetes, having a trained Amada caregiver can support their efforts to manage symptoms and avoid hypoglycemia.
It’s not surprising that families often feel helpless when their senior loved ones are diagnosed with diabetes. A diagnosis can be scary, because without proper medical care and lifestyle changes, diabetes can lead to health conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, kidney disease, hypertension and others. Treating geriatric diabetes (when a patient is age 65 and older) has additional challenges, so it’s no wonder families can quickly become overwhelmed with caregiving tasks. Senior patients often already have one or more other conditions and may be taking numerous medications a day to manage them.
Families caregivers in Alamo, Berkeley, Concord, Lafayette, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and beyond understand that caring for a senior diabetic means they must be keenly observant to help their loved one avoid a hypoglycemic crisis. An Amada Senior Care caregiver trained to give non-medical support can provide an extra level of vigilance to help seniors self-manage their diabetes symptoms and avoid a hospital visit.
Although there’s no cure for diabetes, its impact can be reduced when patients follow a healthy diet and lifestyle, take their medications, and keep appointments with their healthcare team. Amada caregivers understand that reminding seniors to take their prescribed insulin medication, conduct an HBA1C self-test at scheduled times, and self-check their skin and mouth health are key when it comes to aiding seniors with protecting their overall health. The dedicated support of a trained Amada caregiver can thus significantly improve care outcomes for seniors living with diabetes in Alamo, Berkeley, Concord, Lafayette, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and surrounding communities.
Because of their training, Amada Senior Care caregivers:
- Know to remind senior patients to take insulin and HBA1C self-tests on the schedule prescribed by their doctor to avoid a hypoglycemic crisis.
- Understand that helping seniors plan and prepare meals at scheduled times and follow nutrition plans set by their healthcare team will make it easier for them to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
- Encourage seniors to undertake activities that might ease stress—which can affect blood sugar levels—and provide exercise, like walking, gardening, pursuing a hobby or meditating.
- Know to remind senior patients with diabetic neuropathy to self-check their skin and mouth care.
- Know to keep their conversations positive as they speak with compassion to senior diabetics, who are likely aware of possible complications and need support, not negative stories.
- Take the initiative to inform family members if they see signs of diabetes-related cognitive decline (confusion, forgetfulness, depression) in their senior clients.
If you’re looking for in-home Parkinson’s care for yourself or a senior loved one in Alamo, Berkeley, Concord, Lafayette, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and beyond, please call us today at 510-975-3100 for a Free Needs Consultation.