Is Your Elderly Parent at Increased Risk of Diabetes?
If you are like many family caregivers, diabetes is a condition that you have thought about when considering the issues that your senior might face as they age in place. Diabetes is a very common disease, with more than 30 million people throughout the United States living with it. It being common, however, does not diminish the seriousness that this condition can carry. Diabetes can lead to a wide range of potentially severe complications and consequences, making it important that you are vigilant about your parent’s health so that you can ensure that they get the level of care that they need. This starts with understanding if your parent is at increased risk for the condition.
Some risk factors for diabetes include:
- Being overweight.
- Being 45 years old or older.
- A family history of diabetes. Those with a parent, sibling, child, or other close family member with diabetes are at increased risk for this disease.
- Live a largely sedentary lifestyle. This is defined as being physically active fewer than three times per week.
- Have a personal history of gestational diabetes, that is diabetes that is specific to pregnancy.
- Are of black, hispanic, Native American, or Alaskan native ethnicity.
If your aging parent has any of these risk factors, talk to their doctor about their personal health and condition, and determine if there are any other factors that they might face that further increase their personal risk. The doctor can also help you to adopt care methods that reduce your parent’s risk for developing the condition.
Starting home care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you can make as their family caregiver. An in-home senior care services provider can be in the home with your parent on a customized schedule to fill care gaps, manage care tasks that you are unable to do or uncomfortable handling, and give your parent additional companionship and support that allows them to stay more active and fulfilled throughout their later years. In your role as their family caregiver, this eases your stress, reduces your care burden, and ensures that all of the efforts that you put forth for your senior, as well as for the other people and tasks in your life that rely on you, are as effective and efficient as possible. For your parent, this care means being able to live the lifestyle that they desire and deserve throughout their later years.
If you or an loved-one are considering professional home care in West Chester, PA, talk to Unlimited Staffing Solutions. Specializing in Home and Community Based Support Waiver Services Since 2001. Please Call Us for Your Home Care Needs (215) 447-7133
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/features/livingwithdiabetes/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics/statistics-report.html
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