• 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.

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

Knee Lifts: Try to lift your knee as high as your hip using a secure object to assist in maintaining balance. As you grow stronger, decrease the tendency to lean on a support, and try holding the leg up for 3 seconds or longer.

Point and Flex: While sitting, point your toes and then flex them. Repeat with both feet.

Toe Tapping: While sitting, tap your toes. Repeat with both feet.

Sit-to-Stand: When necessary, use a chair for support when standing and again when returning to a sitting position. Try to gradually decrease use of your arms as your legs get stronger.

Calf Muscle Strengthener: While holding onto a wall, chair or the kitchen sink, repeatedly raise yourself up and down on tiptoes. As your strength improves, go higher up on your toes and eventually try it on one foot at a time.

Shin Muscle Strengthener: Lean your back against a wall with your heels placed seven to eight inches away from the wall. Lift the toes of both of your feet off the ground as high as possible.

One-legged Stand: Hold onto a secure object during balance training, such as a sturdy chair. Lift one leg off the ground and try to maintain balance on your standing leg.

Occazio Home Care’s experienced in-home caregivers in New Castle are trained to lead safe exercises for seniors. Providing services throughout the greater Indianapolis region, contact Occazio Home Care today at 1.855.622.2946 (1.855.OCCAZIO) to learn more about our personalized care services.

• Door Alarms: If you have a senior loved one who tends to wander, particularly at night, door alarms can help alert you or a caregiver that your loved one is moving about and may be at risk of falling.

• Monitoring Systems: Monitoring systems are becoming popular as a means of tracking an elderly individual’s movements at home. Sensors can be placed throughout the home to monitor movements and some even come with call functions for the senior to alert a caregiver in the event of a fall.

• Fall Management Socks and Slippers: These are available with rubber grips on the bottom to help prevent slips and are perfect for seniors who are considered high-risk for falls. There are also slip resistant socks that can be worn in the shower.

• Bedrails: Many falls occur during the night as seniors move in their sleep or get up during the night. Bedrails can keep seniors from falling out of bed and give them something to grip when standing to get out of bed.

Occazio Home Care caregivers can help as well, and we provide services throughout the greater Indianapolis area. Contact Occazio Home Care today at 1.855.OCCAZIO and learn more about our personalized eldercare services.

Lighting:

• Replace bulbs regularly to make sure there is adequate illumination in the home
• Use nightlights or motion sensor lights for better visibility at night
• Reduce the amount of electrical cords running across large areas

Floors:

• Install low pile carpet or skid-proof tile
• Remove rugs, or secure them with non-skid tape
• Use a contrast in color with paint, carpet and furniture to denote changes in surface types or levels
• Avoid using floor polish

Bathroom:

• Install grab bars on walls around the tub and beside the toilet, strong enough to hold your weight
• Add nonskid mats or strips to bathtubs
• Mount liquid soap dispenser on the bathtub wall
• Install a portable, hand-held shower head
• Add a padded bath or shower seat

To schedule an in-home assessment to evaluate the safety of your loved one’s living conditions, or to request more information on personalized eldercare in the comfort of home, contact Occazio Home Care at 1-855-OCCAZIO.

It’s also believed that high blood pressure (above 140/90) increases the risk of Alzheimer’s by damaging blood vessels. The blood vessels become stiffer and may lead to a decreased amount of nutrients that get to the brain. Medications and lifestyle changes that have been used to promote heart health may protect brain health as well.

Occazio Home Care’s experienced caregivers are well trained in preparing tasty and nutritious meals for someone trying to lower his or her cholesterol level. They can also assist with activity and exercise as well as provide medication reminders. Providing services throughout the greater Indianapolis region, contact Occazio Home Care today at 1.855.622.2946 (1.855.OCCAZIO) and learn more about our services.

• unusual fatigue
• nausea/vomiting
• indigestion
• sleep disturbances
• weakness in the arms
• anxiety

In fact, research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that women often experience physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. Whether or not you or your loved one has felt the above symptoms, if discomfort is noted, get a medical check-up.

If a serious condition presents itself, call for medical help right away. Calling 911 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment up to an hour sooner than getting to the hospital by car. EMS staff are also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance also usually receive faster treatment at the hospital.

Occazio Home Care in New Castle, Indiana provides experienced care in the comfort of home for those with heart issues or recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery. If you would like to learn more about Occazio Home Care’s services to help your loved one remain safe while living independently at home, contact us today at 1.855.622.2946.