Occazio Home Care

For a person with diabetes, a minor foot wound can quickly turn into a bigger problem. Possible nerve damage, a weakened immune system and restricted blood flow can make it difficult for wounds to heal. Even minor wounds cannot be ignored and should be treated immediately. The best defense against difficult to heal foot wounds for a diabetic is proper foot care. Here are a few precautions to keep feet healthy:

• Keep feet clean and dry.
• Inspect feet thoroughly each day.
• Wear properly fitted footwear and avoid walking around in bare feet.
• If foot ulcers occur, remove whatever pressure there is on the foot and use proper wound dressings.

Remember that for a diabetic, any foot wound requires the attention of a physician. A well trained in-home caregiver, such as the caregivers at Occazio Home Care, can also help with preventative foot care and recognizing potential foot issues. For more information on how in-home care services can benefit diabetics, contact us at 1.855.OCCAZIO (1.855.622.2946). Occazio Home Care provides home care services throughout the East Central Indiana region.

Diabetics understand that good diabetes care requires constant and consistent management. But this non-stop watch often leads to care fatigue, which is then compensated for by overlooking certain care needs.

Ignoring diabetes care can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure and even diabetic coma. However, there are ways to alleviate the stress of care and still remain hopeful and healthy:

• Allow imperfection: Recognize that some days you’ll do better than others, and that’s OK.
• Identify care barriers: And then get what you need to overcome those barriers.
• Reframe care into easily recognizable benefits: Figure out the health benefit that is going to motivate you to do better.
• Stick to a care plan: Setting a regular routine always helps.
• Accept assistance: Don’t be afraid to ask for help to stay on track or stay motivated. Family, friends and an in-home caregiver are all great resources for assistance.

While your diabetes care regimen may be strict, remember to take it easy on yourself and don’t get burned out. At Occazio Home Care, we know that constant diabetes management can turn into a drag. That’s why our caregivers are trained to help keep diabetics motivated and on the track to better health.

Contact Occazio Home Care today at 1.855.OCCAZIO (1.855.622.2946) to learn more about our personalized care services throughout the East Central Indiana region.

Caring for diabetes requires fairly strict adherence to a treatment plan that includes diet, exercise, and medication components as well as blood sugar testing and other self-care measures. And while it may not be intentional, senior diabetes patients who skip care steps may experience a quick decline in health with additional complications linked to diabetes.

If you are concerned that a loved one may need help keeping up with his or her diabetes care, hire an in-home caregiver to assist. Here are a few ways a caregiver can help:

• A senior with reduced vision may not see a small foot sore that could quickly develop into a major problem. An in-home caregiver can inspect the diabetic’s feet daily, and can coordinate care with the physician.
• An in-home caregiver can provide proper nutrition through the planning and preparation of tasty, diabetic-appropriate meals.
• An in-home caregiver can assist with a physician-approved exercise program.
• An in-home caregiver can provide reminders for glucose testing and can schedule regular physician checkups.

Occazio Home Care’s experienced caregivers are well trained in diabetes care and can help seniors with diabetes manage their care while remaining independent at home. We can also assist with activity and exercise, medication reminders, and healthy meal planning.

Contact Occazio Home Care today at 1.855.OCCAZIO (1.855.622.2946) to learn more about our personalized care services throughout the East Central Indiana region.

Diabetes is more prevalent in the U.S. than ever before. If you or a loved one is living with diabetes, you already know that diabetes care is an everyday event, and some days you will naturally feel better than others. However, there are some symptoms that may require a physician’s attention and should not be ignored. Here are a few important examples:

• Frequent urination
• Extreme thirst or hunger
• Acting drunk (Strange behavior can also signal low blood sugar.)
• Infections, swollen or bloody gums, foot sores
• Sudden changes in vision, eye pain, or seeing spots or lights floating in one’s field of vision
• Heart disease symptoms – even if it’s just a suspicion

Contact your physician if you or a family member with diabetes is experiencing any of these symptoms as they may be signs of a serious condition.

Occazio Home Care’s experienced in-home caregivers in New Castle are skilled at assisting clients with diabetes in leading safer, healthier, and happier lives at home. Contact Occazio Home Care today at 1.855.OCCAZIO (1.855.622.2946) to learn more about our personalized care services throughout the East Central Indiana region.

Smart home care starts with a mobility and home safety assessment. Identifying potential environmental and personal hazards for falls is as easy as looking around the home and observing. Here is a quick checklist to help determine if your loved one’s home is due for safety modifications.

Each “no” answer in the below survey indicates that a change should be considered.

• Does he take time to regain his balance when sitting up or standing up?
• If he feels dizzy every now and then, does he use a cane or walker?
• Do both his shoes and slippers have soles that provide traction?
• Are her bathrobes or dresses free of long cords or ties?
• Does she ask for help when she could use it to avoid a fall?
• If he must reach a high place, does he ask for help or if he is steady enough, always use a step stool rather than a chair to stand on?
• Can he turn on a light without first having to walk into a dark room?
• Does she have nightlights to guide her way to the bathroom at night?
• Are his chairs and tables stable enough to support his weight if he leans on them?
• Does she use non-skid wax or no wax on her floors?
• Are walkways kept free of clutter and cords?
• Are her glasses the right prescription or has she gotten her eyes checked recently?
• Does he allow time for his eyes to adapt to changes in lighting?
• Does he understand the side effects of all of his medications?
• Does she have grab bars, handrails and a non-skid mat in her bathroom and tub?
• Does she have handrails on all of her stairways?

Occazio Home Care can assist with determining if home modifications for fall prevention are needed. Call us in the greater Indianapolis area at 1.855.622.2946 (1.855.OCCAZIO) to learn more about our personalized home care services.