Talking to Your Senior About Their Recent Diabetes Diagnosis
October 18, 2018
Finding out that your aging parent is living with a serious health issue such as diabetes can be a life-changing situation for both of you. For your aging loved one, they are looking ahead to the challenges they will face, and coping with the emotional impact of thinking about these difficulties, and how it will change their life.
For you as their adult child and their family caregiver, you are thinking about the additional care they will need, how you can help them cope with these challenges, and what it will mean for them as they age. Taking the time to sit down with your aging parent and talk about their health challenges and recent diagnosis can calm your parent’s emotional difficulties, and help both of you move forward with greater confidence.
Use these tips to help you talk to your senior about their recent diabetes diagnosis:
-Make sure they understand the diagnosis. Especially if your senior is living with a cognitive functioning decline, talk to them to determine if they really understand what the disease is, and how the doctor came to the diagnosis.
-Make sure they understand that this is a serious health issue, not something to just be ignored. Many people think of diabetes as something minor, or just something people live with. This is not the case. It is a disease and can have very serious consequences. Help your parent understand this from the beginning so they know how important it is to manage it carefully.
-Approach the issue of management options. There are various different ways your senior can work to control their diabetes, and it is important to devise the approach that is truly right for them. This may include diet and exercise or could involve medications from their doctor. Help them to understand each of the different options, and to talk to their doctor so they can determine which one would be best for their needs.
-Start devising a care approach that integrates the needs of your parent’s diabetes diagnosis. This includes talking about changing their diet, getting them more active, and paying attention to their symptoms so they can identify consequences that may occur.
-Give your senior the opportunity. Even though this is an extremely common condition, with more than 30 million people throughout the United States living with it, your senior may experience a variety of challenging emotions in response to knowing they have this condition. Listen to them, answer their questions, and help them to address fears and concerns so they can move forward confidently.
There’s a common misconception that elder care is only beneficial for those who are extremely elderly or have extensive challenges and limitations. This is not the case. Even those senior adults who are dealing with only mild to moderate issues are still largely independent, and only need some occasional support can benefit dramatically from elder care.
The services of an elderly home care services provider are completely customizable.
This means your senior will get exactly what they need to help them manage their challenges, boost their mental and emotional health, increase their independence, and encourage a more active and fulfilling lifestyle. This can mean a care provider being with them a few hours each week to handle potentially sensitive tasks such as helping them bathe, or being with them more often to help with tasks such as keeping their home clean and going on errands how to help your parents save energy and take on more tasks on their own.
If you are considering Elderly Care in Beaver, PA, please contact the friendly staff at Liken Home Care. Call (412) 693-6820 or (855) 856-0551.
Source:
Diabetes.org