Being a family caregiver for an elderly adult is challenging, but this is particularly true when that elderly adult is living with a health issue such as diabetes. You want to make sure you are giving them everything they need to properly manage their health issue, while also balancing their other needs.
It is important to consider managing their diabetes a basic element of their care, rather than thinking of it as something individual and separate. This enables you to care for your parent’s disease from a variety of angles, supporting overall health, and effective management of the disease and all of its impacts.
Use these tips to care for a senior living with diabetes:
Find out everything you can about the disease so you can be a support for your parent, as well as their advocate. Learn about the symptoms and challenges, how you can help them with lifestyle changes, different treatment and management options available, and other information so you can be an informed and empowered caregiver.
Even though every day with healthier living is beneficial for your parent, don’t expect to completely overhaul their life overnight. Making all of these changes suddenly can be frustrating and upsetting for your parent, and make it less likely for them to actually maintain these changes. Make changes gradually so they become a part of their daily lifestyle.
Empower your parent to take care of themselves, but don’t micromanage them. If you nag and pester, they are likely to get frustrated, and may even push back by doing the opposite of what they need.
Be there to support your parent in their changes. Exercise together, eat healthy meals together, and find ways to stay active and enjoy a healthier lifestyle as a unit rather than making the changes just for your parent.
Expect your parent to backslide occasionally. They aren’t going to be perfect. There will be times when they don’t exercise or when they eat food they aren’t supposed to. This can be frustrating to you, but instead of making it a big deal, acknowledge it, talk to your parent about it in a supportive way, and move forward with a fresh start.
Introducing home health care into your care routine with your senior can be a fantastic way it to enhance their quality of life, and boost their mental and emotional well-being as they age in place. A home health care services provider can be with your aging parent on a customized schedule to ensure ongoing access to the level of care and support they need as an individual.
This means their specific needs and challenges will be kept in mind, along with their personality, preferences, and lifestyle goals. The result is your parent will be able to stay safe and healthy, enjoy better mental and emotional health, and have a higher quality of life as they age. For you, knowing your senior has access to this care will ease your stress, and give you greater peace of mind both when you are with them and when you are not.
Source: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/recently-diagnosed/8-tips-for-caregivers.html
If you or an aging loved one are in need of Home Health Care Services in Manhasset NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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