Blog > It’s Time to Talk to Your Diabetic Dad About Home Care

It's Time to Talk to Your Diabetic Dad About Home Care

Almost 30% of adults over the age of 65 have diabetes. Your dad is diagnosed with diabetes, and you’re not sure what to do next. Start by having a conversation with your dad and his medical team about home care services.

Diet and exercise are vital components to his care plan now. If he is going to find it difficult to remember how to shop for groceries that meet his dietary needs, he can have a caregiver helping him. He might need medication reminders and someone to help keep him motivated when it’s time to exercise.

Once you know what his doctors want him to do, you need to sit down with your dad. What should you ask him about his daily routine?

What Is His Current Daily Routine?

Talk to your dad about his current routine. What is he accustomed to eating and doing? Does he have breakfast or grab a coffee and a pastry and consider that enough? Does he skip lunch and sit behind his computer all day?

You need to look at what he does each day and determine where changes need to happen. If he gets up late, has coffee, and goes to his computer to play games, he needs to add a brisk walk for half an hour.

His new routine needs to include regular snacks to stabilize his blood sugar levels. He needs to get the right amount of exercise. Maybe he’d benefit from a volunteer position at a local animal shelter where he can walk dogs.

Does He Need to Take Prescription Medications?

Did his doctor prescribe any medications? If so, how well does he remember to take them without a reminder? If you have to remind him every day, he needs a system to help him remember.

A pill dispenser or alarm may help. Medication reminder services from home care are often the best options. With a caregiver’s help, your dad remembers to take his medications and has the caregiver watch him complete the task.

If he requires insulin, someone needs to make sure he’s checking his sugar levels and using insulin when needed. It also helps him have someone make sure he’s scheduling follow-up care with his doctor and getting to those appointments on time.

Ask a Home Care Specialist About the Available Services

Gather questions and call a home care agency. Involve your dad in discussions to ensure his comfort with his new caregivers. If he knows that his requests have been heard, he’ll embrace having home care services to help him manage his changing health.