Some diseases we sort of have to just live with, and then there are diseases that actually require daily maintenance. Diabetes is one of the latter, and it can be overwhelming and frustrating. Diabetes requires painstaking attention to one’s diet, and even daily shots of insulin. It requires really knowing your body, your system, and your own individual case of the disease. You have to be able to recognize an emergency as quickly as possible, such as beginning to feel faint, so you can act and help yourself. You can live a normal life with diabetes, but you have to be constantly conscious of your condition. You can never forget you can’t eat that cookie, and you can never forget you need that shot of insulin at a certain time everyday. If you don’t, you can maintain a normal, even better than normal, quality of life. But what if you can’t? What if you’re older, weaker, and your memory isn’t quite as sharp as it used to be? What if you even now have another condition, like Alzheimer’s, that prevents you from remembering your shots?
If one of our elderly parents has diabetes, it can be scary to leave them living alone. Maybe they’ve just developed it, maybe they’ve had it for years but have been able to manage it. Now, however, they don’t have someone to help them with their diet, or to help them remember to take their medication. You want them to be able to remain comfortably in their home, but you need them to take care of their disease. That’s why Dale Anderson and his Tacoma, Washington branch of in-home care agency, Right At Home offer specialized diabetes care.
You know for sure you need someone to help provide care for your parent. Even if you stop by several times a week, an elderly person with diabetes most likely needs daily care, since the point is to help maintain healthy life everyday. When it comes to finding a caregiver, you could opt for an agency that offers general elder care. But, it would make an astronomical difference to choose an agency that actually specializes in diabetes care, like Right At Home does. Why? An elder care worker can help give medicine, and he can provide a lot of general care like housework, personal care, and companionship. But he does not have the specialized diabetes training that an agency like Right At Home offers.
Diabetes care involves several aspects of care that would really only be mastered by a trained diabetes caregiver. Meal preparation is a large part of diabetes care, since so much of the disease relies on diet maintenance. A specialized caregiver – this could be a certified nursing assistant or registered nurse, depending on the stage and severity of the diabetes – would be well-versed in the dietary needs of a diabetes patient. They could do the grocery shopping for a diabetic menu that your parent would actually enjoy meeting. They could cook and prepare meals and never add an ingredient that could be potentially dangerous or unhealthy. They can consult with your parent and even you and the family about the diet and nutrition.
They are also trained to remind your parent to take the insulin or any other necessary medications everyday at the right time. If need be, they will give medication. This is all in addition to the general care that a non-skilled caregiver would offer. A few hours a day might involve, in addition to the diabetes care, running errands and light housekeeping. But a live-in nurse would do housekeeping, errands, companionship, even hygienic assistance. The hours and services would be decided by you and an agency representative, all tailored to comfortably meet the needs of your parent. The idea is to keep your parent safe and healthy while still maintaining the quality of independence, dignity, and happiness.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
