Is Your Loved One's Dementia Interfering With Their Diabetes Management? 3 Strategies To Help Them Handle Both Conditions
Posted on: 9 February 2018
The link between diabetes and dementia is still being researched. However, it is known that the symptoms of dementia such as memory loss can make it harder for seniors to stay on track with their diabetes management plan. Unfortunately, forgetting to check their glucose levels of take their medication place your loved one at risk for a major health emergency. When you worry about your loved one handling a dual diagnosis, use these steps to set up a safe home environment that promotes independence.
Perform a Needs Assessment
The combination of dementia and diabetes could leave your loved one struggling with more parts of their daily routine than you realize. For this reason, you will need to arrange for a professional elderly home care assessment to identify your loved one's needs. For example, your loved one may experience dizziness when their blood sugar drops that requires you to eliminate fall hazards around their house. Alternatively, they may need someone to make sure that they turn off their stove if they tend to get confused around meal time.
Implement a Medication Management Plan
Professional nurse assistance services help seniors with essential health care tasks such as medication management. If your loved one routinely fails to take their medication on time, it could lead to a diabetic emergency. Unfortunately, memory loss that occurs with dementia could cause them to take a double dose or skip their medicine entirely. Professional caregivers can follow up on your loved one's current system by checking to make sure they take their medicine on their own, or they can create a medication journal that allows you to double check on dosing schedule.
Provide Assistance With Lifestyle Changes
Both dementia and diabetes require your loved to strive to live as healthy as possible. Consider arranging for home care services that incorporate meal planning and preparation into the plan so that your loved one eats balanced meals that keep their blood sugar in check. Then, make sure that your loved one gets help with exercise each day so that they keep their blood flowing throughout their body. Often, seniors just need a little encouragement from their caregivers to stay on top of their healthy lifestyle plan.
Today, many seniors continue to live at home, even when they struggle with multiple health conditions such as diabetes and dementia. However, you can help your loved one maintain their health by ensuring that they receive professional assistance from caregivers that are trained in how to manage these conditions.Visit a site like wayshomecare.com for more info on home care.
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