Skilled Home Health Care for Diabetes
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar, either by not producing enough insulin or the body’s cells not responding appropriately to insulin.
Symptoms of diabetes may vary for each patient but can include:
- Increased thirst, urination
- Unintentional weight loss
- Numb or tingling hands or feet
- Fatigue
- Dry skin
- Slowly-healing sores
- Blurry vision
- Increased infections
Each patient’s plan of care is tailored to meet their unique care needs and health goals. Most commonly, home care helps diabetes patients:
- Remain independent wherever they call home
- Reduce potential ER visits or hospitalizations
- Decrease their risk of falls
- Receive treatment at first signs of exacerbation
Elara Caring offers many skilled services, including a diagnosis-specific diabetes program, to support patients as they manage their disease at home.
- Home care nursing, for example, offers education to diabetes patients on the disease process and their medications. Nurses can assist with diet recommendations and provide effective symptom management tools and treatments.
- Physical therapy helps patients with balance, strength and mobility. Therapy is customized for each patient and may include things like functional or endurance exercises or assistive device teaching.
- Occupational therapy provides training to help patients accomplish their activities of daily living, like dressing, bathing and meal preparation. Occupational therapists can assess patients’ homes for safety issues or fall risks, too. Additionally, occupational therapy can help patients with energy conservation.
How do I know if I’m ready for home care to help manage my diabetes?
Our team of experts assess each diabetes patient for home care eligibility. Some signs that you may be ready for home care for diabetes are:
- Leaving home is taxing and/or requires assistance
- Hospitalization or ER visit in last 6 months
- New diagnosis of diabetes (or other diagnosis)
- Recent exacerbation of diabetes (or other diagnosis)
- Onset or increase in signs and symptoms
- Confusion about medications
- New or recent medication changes
- Falling in the past 6 months
- Decline in ability to perform ADLs/IADLs
- Concern from patient and/or family about recent health changes
Get in touch with Elara Caring
Contact your local Elara Caring branch for more information or ask your physician if skilled home health with Elara Caring may be right for you.
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