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Does Your Elderly Parent Have Diabetes? Consider Home Healthcare

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Anyone can easily learn how to operate a glucose meter; it involves a simple finger prick for a blood sample and –for most meters—just five seconds to read the result.

Managing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is a constant challenge, even more so for seniors who may have lost some manual dexterity, have memory problems or suffer from nerve damage. In-home healthcare may be the best option for some families; however, if you are caring for a loved one with diabetes you should be aware of the following potential issues.

Blood glucose testing is the primary tool for a person with diabetes to manage their disease. Today’s glucose meters tendto be small and can be difficult to handle for persons with limited movement in the hands and fingers.

Anyone can easily learn how to operate a glucose meter; it involves a simple finger prick for a blood sample and –for most meters—just five seconds to read the result. Most diabetics are instructed to test their blood sugar 3-4 times a day.

The result of the blood glucose test will determine what the next dose of insulin or other medication should be. You’ll need to not only learn how to use the meter, but also keep a document handy with doctor’s instructions regarding how to adjust medications based on these test results. Obviously, seniors who have memory problems will need close monitoring to ensure that tests are conducted on schedule and that medications are accurately dispensed.

If your loved one exhibits odd behaviors, don’t assume that these are a result of aging or dementia! Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) reactions can cause slurred speech, dizziness and anxiety; a person experiencing hypoglycemia can appear to be drunk. If you see this kind of behavior you will want to test your loved one’s blood sugar immediately.

Finally, persons with diabetes are prone to develop sores that won’t heal, especially on their feet. If the person has diminished sensation due to nerve damage, a small cut or blister can become gangrenous surprisingly quickly, often leading to amputations. Be sure to check the person’s feet regularly; at least every 3-4 days.

Caring for diabetes is a 24-hour-a-day job that is difficult for a family member to take on; a better option might be to hire a service that provides in-home care for your loved one. If you’re fortunate enough to live in the Arizona Valley, you have the home care experts at your service: Endeavor Senior Care. We provide a full spectrum of in-home care to help your loved one live independently for as long as possible and give you peace of mind. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact us.

Home Healthcare Solutions Exist for People with PTSD Dementia

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Have you ever experienced trauma in your life? According to the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder’s ongoing research, almost all of us have gone through such events. Unfortunately, a May 2015 article that appeared in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry indicates having those types of experiences puts us at risk of developing something many families don’t anticipate.

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There are treatment options for PTSD dementia patients, and we can help your family find the right one.

If you guessed dementia, you’d be correct. On a good note, the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder also believes that people suffering from one or both illnesses would benefit from home healthcare. It is one item on a list of treatment options the center released previously to interested caregivers. A registered nurse or physician can go over, in detail, the other items on the list for families that are interested.

Based on those published treatment recommendations, it’s apparent that the agency’s experts widely believe that everything from medically necessary assistance to companion care services may help. So families should know that it is normal to see both types of care included on a PTSD dementia patient’s care plan.

There are a number of ways to pay for home healthcare for PTSD dementia patients. As such, specialized care plans and related treatments are in reach for those that need it. For example, treatment for trauma experienced as part of service to our country may be covered by Veterans Administration programs and private insurance. Our team members are willing to sit down and offer guidance to families in need of PTSD dementia in-home care.

To learn more about obtaining care for people with PTSD related dementia and receive personalized assistance, pleasecontact us at Endeavor Senior Care. We specialize in caring for people with various forms of dementia, including post-traumatic, LBD, Alzheimer’s and TBI. All of our caregivers are screened. Plus, we’re bonded and insured.

Home Healthcare Agency in Arizona Welcomes AMD Awareness Month

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Is your vision, or that of a loved one, slowly deteriorating? Chances are the change could be caused by age-related macular degeneration. It is a problem that affects many Arizona residents and comes in two types, both of which led to low-vision. Each February, home healthcare agencies and others in the long-term care community seek to spread valuable information about the condition as part of National Age-related Macular Degeneration Month.

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AMD usually strikes people over age 65, but anyone can be diagnosed with the disorder.

Although the disorder largely affects people who are 65-years of age or older, it truly knows no age limit. So, anyone may end up being diagnosed with the disorder. Surefire signs that a person should consider being tested for age-related macular degeneration include, but aren’t limited to dark spots appearing in the main field of vision and incidents of blurriness when reading.

Preliminary testing may be done at home with the aid of a readily available tool known as an Amsler Grid. Primary testing should ideally be performed by a licensed ophthalmologist. Optometrists may also offer AMD testing. However, if they suspect that a person has age-related macular degeneration, they will need to refer him or her to an ophthalmologist for treatment.

Treatments used to address low-vision will obviously vary on a case-by-case basis. Among the list of treatments frequently recommended by ophthalmologists are photocoagulation, adhering to special diets, periodic eye injections andphotodynamic therapy. They may also refer patients to home healthcare agencies and other resources that can provide assistance with activities of daily living. Examples include businesses that offer low-vision patients canes, service animals, magnifying aids, large print books, speech-to-text software and Braille education.

To learn more about how people successfully cope with low-vision and age-related macular degeneration, please contact us at Endeavor Senior Care. As home healthcare experts, we work with the state’s top-notch, in-home caregivers year-round.