How Home Health Care Helps Seniors Manage Diabetes At Home
Home Health Care: Diabetes in Seniors in Arlington, VA
More than 15 million seniors are living with diabetes, and there are more than a million seniors diagnosed with diabetes every year. Seniors who are aging in place may have trouble getting to the doctor for routine care related to their diabetes, which can lead to complications.
If your senior parent has diabetes and struggles to manage their diabetes home health care may be a good option for them. With home health care seniors can get routine medical care from trained nurses and medical care providers at home. Diabetes care at home can prevent seniors from experiencing serious complications that can arise from diabetes like foot ulcers or blindness.
Home health care can help seniors manage diabetes at home by helping them with things like:
Assessing Their Diabetes
Home health starts with an assessment of what your senior parent’s condition is. A home nurse conducts a thorough evaluation of your senior parent’s medical history, current medications, dietary habits, activity levels, and any existing complications related to diabetes. This assessment is then used to develop a personalized care plan for your senior parent to manage their diabetes more effectively.
Medication Management
Home health care providers play a crucial role in the management of medication that seniors with diabetes need to take. They ensure that medications are taken as prescribed, monitor your senior parent for any side effects or interactions, and assist with medication refills and organization.
They can also help educate seniors and their families on the importance of taking medicines as prescribed, how to administer medication, and what a blood sugar level is and why it’s so important.
Blood Glucose Monitoring
One of the biggest ways that home health care helps seniors is helping them take and monitor blood sugar readings. A trained nurse can teach your senior parent how to take a blood sugar reading, how to use a blood sugar monitor, and how to recognize patterns in their blood sugar levels. It can be difficult for seniors to manage their blood sugar but having skilled medical help at home can help seniors understand the important of testing and how to manage their blood sugar.
Dietary Guidance and Meal Planning
Nutrition and diet are very important for diabetes management. Seniors who are diagnosed with diabetes need to be very careful about what they eat. They also usually need to make some dietary changes to cut out carbs and increase the amount of vegetables that they’re eating. A nurse that visits your senior parent at home can talk to your senior parent about portions, what foods are good to eat and what foods aren’t, and help them make better dietary choices.
Wound Care and Foot Assessment
Seniors with diabetes have an increased risk of developing foot ulcers and other wounds due to neuropathy and impaired circulation. Home nurses conduct regular foot assessments to identify any signs of injury or infection and provide appropriate wound care interventions. They can talk to your senior parent about the importance of proper foot hygiene, wearing supportive footwear, and seeking prompt medical attention for any foot-related concerns to prevent complications and promote wound healing.
Emotional Support and Advocacy
Living with diabetes can be emotionally challenging for seniors and worrisome for their families. Home health care providers can give seniors and their families emotional support and answer their questions about the disease.
Source: Source 1