If your senior parent has been diagnosed with diabetes, they have a high risk of developing diabetic eye disease. November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month, so now is a great time for you and your senior parent to learn more about how diabetes can impact their vision.
Seniors have the highest risk of any age group for developing diabetic eye disease. Among seniors aged 65-79 who have diabetes, nearly 28% have diabetic eye disease. If your senior parent is having trouble managing their diabetes, home care assistance may help.
Managing Diabetes At Home with Home Care Assistance
Seniors who have diabetes and live independently may have an easier time managing their diabetes at home with home care assistance. If your senior parent has home care assistance, a home care provider can help them prepare healthy meals, remind them to check their blood sugar, and help them make better lifestyle choices.
A home care assistance provider can also make sure your senior parent gets regular eye exams, goes to their doctor appointments, and always has the medication they need.
If your senior parent has unmanaged diabetes, it can increase their risk of developing diabetic eye disease. Seniors who live alone and have diabetic eye disease may experience challenges that can make it tough for them to stay independent, such as:
Trouble Seeing Clearly
One of the biggest problems with diabetic eye disease is blurry or distorted vision. Your parent may have trouble reading, recognizing faces, or seeing things across the room. This can make everyday tasks, like reading the newspaper, watching TV, or using the phone, much harder.
Poor vision can also lead to eye strain and headaches, making it frustrating to do things they used to enjoy. If they can’t see clearly, it becomes harder to take care of themselves and stay independent.
Difficulty Moving Around Safely
Clear vision is important for moving around the house or outside. If diabetic eye disease affects depth perception or causes blind spots, your parent may misjudge steps, curbs, or objects in their way. This increases the risk of tripping, falling, or bumping into furniture.
Falls are especially dangerous for older adults and can lead to serious injuries. If your parent can’t see where they’re going, walking to the bathroom or kitchen can become risky and stressful.
Problems with Medication and Medical Care
Managing diabetes and other health conditions usually means taking medications and checking labels. But if your parent can’t read small print on pill bottles or instructions, they may take the wrong dose or skip medicine by mistake.
They might also struggle to check their blood sugar or use medical devices properly if they can’t see the screen or test strips. Diabetic eye disease can make it harder to follow doctors’ orders, which puts their health at risk.
Challenges with Cooking and Housekeeping
Cooking requires the ability to measure ingredients, set timers, and safely use knives and hot appliances. But with low vision, your parent may struggle to see the settings on the stove or microwave, or notice when something is boiling or burning.
Cleaning can also become a problem. They might miss spots when vacuuming, dusting, or washing dishes. Over time, this can lead to an untidy or even unsafe home, making it harder to live independently.
Get The Home Care Assistance Your Senior Parent Needs
Diabetic eye disease can slowly take away the clear vision your senior parent needs to live safely and independently.
Home care assistance can help your parent lower their risk of diabetic eye disease and provide the support they need to manage their diabetes at home.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Assistance in Hillsborough, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care today at (415) 463-1400
Aviva In-Home Care provides exceptional senior home care in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Lafayette, Orinda, and surrounding areas.
Source:
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