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8 Rules for New Caregivers

1. Start with a candid conversation. Talk with your parents about how you will be helping them to meet their needs. Unless they are severely incapacitated, they should continue to make their own decisions and remain a central part of all discussions about their care. Encourage them to articulate their concerns: Most likely, your parents are worried about becoming a burden and losing control of their lives. Have an open conversation about what role your parents want you to play. Establish limits so they don’t form unrealistic expectations.

2. Set your priorities. Make a list of what needs to get done and how you plan to do it. An organized approach puts you in control, reduces stress and ensures that your parents get the assistance they need. Be sure to create backup plans, and ask others to serve as reinforcements if necessary. Write down your plans and schedules, and give a copy to all involved family members. Consider using an online scheduling tool such as Lotsa Helping Hands to organize and keep track of who’s doing what, when.

3. Build a support network.In most families, one person assumes the role of primary caregiver. But that doesn’t let others off the hook. Enlist the help of your siblings, of course, but also consider that cousins, nieces and nephews may be eager to help. Don’t forget to include your friends, distant relatives, neighbors and acquaintances, such as members of your parents’ civic or religious groups. Not all of these folks will volunteer to help, but many will get involved if you ask. Some, in fact, may feel hurt or left out if you don’t seek their assistance.

4. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Ask a friend to pick up groceries or get books from the library, a neighbor’s child to adopt your parent as a grandparent, or a local teenager to help with yard work for a manageable fee. Investigate whether a civic group can provide free home repair or transportation services. Ask the newspaper carrier, a barber or an apartment superintendent to keep an eye out for your parents and to call you if anything seems wrong.

5. Offer alternatives. With family members, don’t accept excuses for not helping without offering alternatives. A sibling who lives far away, for example, can help with paying bills, contacting doctors’ offices or seeking support from local agencies. Siblings who have young children can cook meals or bring kids along for visits and outings.

6. Hold family meetings. Schedule them regularly, and bring in distant family by phone. Choose a neutral party to moderate if necessary. Draw up a clear agenda for each meeting, and agree on rules of conduct — for instance, don’t interrupt, stick to time limits, avoid argument and focus the discussion on how to care for your parents. If meetings tend to be contentious, consider hiring a geriatric care manager to run the meeting.

7. Involve your children. When you have parents and children who need your time and attention, you may feel pulled from both sides. Be honest with your children about the situation, and listen to their concerns. Encourage their questions, and answer them thoroughly. Carve out time for fun activities, and request your children’s help. Teenagers can drive Grandma to the store, and even a toddler can make her feel loved.

8. Talk to your spouse. Have a discussion with your partner about your caregiving responsibilities.What role do you expect him or her to play? Suggest specific ways your spouse can help, and show appreciation for his or her efforts. Recognize that your responsibilities affect your spouse, and encourage him or her to talk about any frustrations. Your relationship is a priority — keep it that way.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Macomb County or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Legal Documents You Need Now!

People don’t want to think that an accident or illness would prevent them from saying what they want — or don’t want — when it comes to their future medical care. We tell ourselves: I have plenty of time to take care of those things later … if I get sick … when I’m older.

But things do happen in our lives that are out of our control. Your family and friends need to know how you want them to handle situations if you’re too ill to tell them. If they’re left guessing, a conversation can quickly disintegrate into a confrontation. The fallout can result in guilt, uncertainty and arguments. Take these steps to ensure this doesn’t happen if such a situation should arise:

1. Know what you need. You’ll need to draw up three documents, often referred to as advance directives.

• A living will alerts medical professionals and your family to the treatments you want to receive or refuse, and under what conditions. This will only go into effect if you meet specific medical criteria and are unable to make decisions.
• A health care power of attorneydelegates a spouse, trusted family member or friend to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so. This document is also referred to as a health care proxy, appointment of a health care agent or durable power of attorney for health care. Be aware that a regular durable power of attorney only covers financial matters.
• A letter of instruction outlines any special requests you’d like to be carried out, such as plans for a funeral and names of people to contact. It also should include important phone numbers, such as your employer and your insurance agent or broker. Some people also include a list of meaningful possessions they’d like to give to certain loved ones. This is not a substitute for a will, but it helps clarify your intentions and feelings.

2.  Put it in writing. A living will and power of attorney are legal documents, but you can draw them up yourself. A letter of instruction is not technically a legal document. Many people opt to hire an attorney. You may want one, so they can apprise you of any relevant changes in the law that might affect your document. Most eldercare lawyers charge fixed rates, so you should be able to find one within your budget. Contact the American Bar Association for a list of free and low-cost legal services in your state.

Want to write your living will yourself? Download a copy of your state’s living will at Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), which strives to improve care at the end of life. Every state has different rules concerning living wills, so be sure to download and complete the one recognized by your state. You can also find a sample living will at Aging With Dignity that is now legal in 40 states. AARP offers suggestions on estate planning, as well as an easy-to-follow work sheet to help you organize documents.

3.  Sit down with your family, especially the one who you’ve designated as a health care agent, and explain what you’ve decided. Give them a copy of your documents and have your doctor put one in your permanent medical record.

4.  Review your papers every few years. Keep them in a safe, easily accessible place such as a secure file cabinet. If your family situation changes — through the arrival of grandchildren, for example, or a divorce— you may want to make changes.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Shelby Township or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Outsmart Scam Artists: Protect Yourself and Your Loved One

Scams abound these days, and even savvy consumers can fall victim if they’re not careful. Older adults, in particular, are frequent targets of fraudulent and deceptive business practices because of the perception that they’re more likely to trust and act politely toward strangers.

Don’t let a scam artist take advantage of you or your loved one. Take these precautions to protect yourselves.

Learn to Spot Common Scams
Con artists use a variety of methods to dupe unsuspecting consumers. We often hear about Internet-based scams, but swindlers also lure people in with phone calls, direct mailings, broadcast and print advertisements, and door-to-door solicitations.

A healthy dose of skepticism can protect you and your loved one in any circumstance, particularly when you come across offers such as these:

• Living trust kits and seminars, especially those “endorsed” by AARP: Note that AARP does not sell or endorse living trust products. If you want to know if a trust is right for you, seek advice from a licensed and experienced estate-planning attorney.

• “Free lunch” financial seminars: These seminars typically involve high-pressure sales tactics.

• Unsolicited reverse mortgage offers: Do your homework before considering any reverse mortgage product.

• “Free” or “low-cost” vacations or prizes: You usually have to buy something, give out personal information or attend a high-pressure sales presentation in order to get the prize, which may turn out to be worthless.

• Investment opportunities and other offers that sound too good to be true

Never let anyone pressure you or your loved one into making an immediate decision. If you’re not interested, say, “No thank you.” Otherwise, say that you need to think about it. If a telephone solicitor continues to apply pressure, simply hang up the phone. Install and use caller ID to screen out unfamiliar callers. And do the same for your loved one.

Other advice for you and your loved one:

• Always ask for information in writing before giving money to a business or charity.
• Beware of any charity or business that refuses to provide written information or references.
• Never give out Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or bank account information to anyone on the phone or Internet until you have independently verified who is asking for the information and why they want it.

Cut Down on Solicitations
To limit the number of solicitations you and your loved one receive by phone, snail mail and e-mail, take these steps:

• Add phone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry.Register numbers by visiting www.donotcall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222 from the number(s) you would like to register. A number will remain on the registry until you remove it or until the number is disconnected.

• Get caller ID. Placing phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls; however, political organizations, charities and companies with whom you have an existing relationship may still call. Caller ID shows who is calling before the call is answered. Don’t answer calls from unfamiliar numbers.

• Visit the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) website to reduce commercial mail. You’ll need to create a DMAchoice account (it’s free), and then you can specify what types of mailings you do and do not wish to receive at your house or the home of your loved one. The DMA will save preferences for three years, and DMA members will add or remove your name from their mailing lists based on those preferences. Just remember: mail from any organization that is not a DMA member will still come through, as well as mail from any company with which you or your loved one has done business (for instance, if you’ve ordered from a particular catalog, you’ll still receive that catalog).

• Opt out of unsolicited “pre-approved” credit offers. Call 888-567-8688 or visit www.optoutprescreen.com to request that the major credit bureaus not share personal information with creditors and insurance companies for promotional purposes. You can opt out for five years, or you can have your name and your loved one’s name permanently removed from credit bureaus’ lists. You will need to provide Social Security numbers and other personal information, which will be used only to process your request.

• Protect your information and time online. Don’t give a website any personal details until you’ve checked its privacy policy. Be especially careful about sharing your Social Security number and credit card information. If you must register with a website, consider using a secondary e-mail address — one you use expressly for website registrations. This will cut down on e-mail sent to your primary address. Also, many websites let you opt out of having your information shared with others or used for promotional purposes; if given the choice, opt out. If your loved one is Internet savvy, instruct him to do the same.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Grosse Pointe or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Finding the right person to take care of your loved one

Your loved one probably wants to stay in her home as long as possible, but she could use help with everyday activities. One option is to find someone through an agency. Another is to hire someone yourself.

If that’s what you decide to do, here’s what you need to know.

Finding Candidates

• Ask friends, neighbors, co-workers or other caregivers you know for referrals.
• Post a bulletin board ad at your place of worship, the library or local recreation center, or at a nearby senior center, adult day center or hospital.
• Look into a job placement program at a college that has a social work program.
• Run an ad in the newspaper or on a local website. Your ad should describe the job and its duties. Include a phone number or e-mail address, but don’t give out your name or other personal information.

Considering Applicants

• Write a detailed job description that you can share with applicants. Include all the tasks you will require, the hours and days of the job, and personal preferences with regard to driving and other transportation options. Also jot down questions you will want to ask to get a sense of the applicants’ personality.
• Decide how much you’re prepared to pay. If you hire someone directly, you need to look into how you will pay taxes and possibly a Social Security contribution. Check with the Internal Revenue Service for proper tax forms and instructions. See the IRS publications “Hiring Household Employees”and “Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee?” for details.
• Conduct the initial interview by phone. Ask about work experience, hours of availability, driving experience and special training with a condition such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Conducting an Interview

• Ask job candidates to bring a résumé or job history as well as names and telephone numbers for at least two references. If possible, make sure your loved one participates in the interview or at least has the opportunity to meet anyone you would like to hire.
• Describe to applicants your loved one’s needs, health concerns, likes and dislikes. Outline the duties you expect her to perform. Be friendly but professional. Stick to questions that will help you determine if this person is a good match for the job — and for your loved one.
• Make sure to get the person’s name, address, telephone number and Social Security number. Don’t be afraid to ask for proof of identity, ideally a Social Security card. If not available, ask to see a driver’s license or other photo ID. You can also ask if she has ever been in trouble with the law.
• Find out if she has any special training, such as working with clients who have dementia or other conditions. Also ask about her work history, including why she left her former job.
• Ask about her expectations of this position and why she is working in the home care field.
• Invite her to ask questions about the job and your expectations. Give honest answers.
• Be clear about salary and benefits, such as vacation and other time off. Head off any misunderstandings by addressing these issues directly.

Checking References

• Always call references. A reference can confirm your feelings about a person or give you important information that you missed.
• If it’s a former employer, ask about her punctuality and attendance as well as the precise nature of her work. Find out why the applicant left the position, whether there were any problems. Take notes on each applicant so you can refer to them when making your decision.
• Consider paying for a criminal background check. Contact your local law enforcement agency to find out how to do this.
• Consider hiring someone for a one-month trial period before you commit to hiring her permanently. Explain that this would be an opportunity to see if this is a mutually acceptable arrangement.
• Once someone accepts your job offer, put your entire agreement in writing. Include information about the trial period, job duties, salary, pay schedule, time off, start date and termination policy. Keep copies of this job contract signed by both of you.
• Try to be at your loved one’s house for the first few days to familiarize the new caregiver with the routine. Periodically, you should drop by unannounced to check on how things are going.

Source: AARP.org

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Sterling Heights or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Exercising to Music May Lower Risk of Falling

Music is universal, used by people around the world and throughout history for recreational, cultural, religious and educational purposes. Most of us enjoy music without realizing what a powerful health tool it is.

Today, modern brain imaging allows neurologists to study the effect of music on the human brain. These medical researchers and musicologists are teaming up to understand the interrelationship between music and wellness. In previous issues of Caring Right at Home, we’ve seen that music can:

• Reduce stress, anxiety and depression;
• Comfort hospice patients and their families;
• Decrease pain from arthritis and osteoporosis; and,
• Improve mobility in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Many of us also use music for an energy boost while we exercise. Now, as reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a new study demonstrates that combining music with physical activity can reduce the fall risk of seniors.

Researchers from University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Switzerland, noted, “Each year, one-third of the population 65 years and older experiences at least one fall, and half fall repeatedly. Exercise can counteract key risk factors for falls, such as poor balance, and consequently reduce the risk of falling.”  They designed a study to investigate whether adding music to an exercise program could enhance its fall-preventive effects.

The researchers assigned a group of older adult participants to take part in a once-a-week exercise program using music and a wide range of movements to improve the body’s balance-control system. The seniors, whose average age was 75, walked in time to piano music, responding to changes in the music’s rhythm. As the sessions progressed, the exercises became more challenging. At the end of the study, participants demonstrated improved balance and walking skills—and their fall rate had decreased by more than 50 percent.

In this study, exercise and music turned out to be natural partners in combating the danger of senior falls. Study author Dr. Andrea Trombetti said, “Our findings suggest that this program may be useful for fall prevention and rehabilitation in community-based settings such as senior centers.”

Pure Home Care Services, serving Franklin, MI, and surrounding areas with expert home care services. Please call (586) 293-2457 for more information.

Loved ones who suffer from mild to moderate dementia and their family caregivers often have different perceptions regarding the amount and quality of care given and received. A study by researchers at Penn State University and the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging recently examined a major source of those differences: Caregivers may not understand the things that are important to their relatives with dementia.

“Family caregivers often become the surrogate decisionmakers of relatives who have dementia, so the two groups need to communicate well and understand each other,” said study leader Steven Zarit, head of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. “Unfortunately, in our study we found that family caregivers and their relatives often do not understand each other well when it comes to the values they hold about giving and receiving care.”

The team interviewed 266 pairs of people, each composed of an individual with mild to moderate dementia and his or her family caregiver. To participate in the study, caregivers had to be the primary family caregiver of the dementia patient and the dementia patient had to be living in his or her own home.

The researchers interviewed members of the pairs separately, asking questions related to how much worth they placed on five core values: autonomy, burden, control, family and safety. For example, one question focused on the level of importance the dementia patients placed on the ability to spend their own money in the way they wanted.

“Our results demonstrate that adult children underestimate the importance that their relatives with dementia place on all five core values,” said Zarit. “For example, the person with dementia might think it is very important to continue to be part of family celebrations, but his or her caregiver might not.”

According to Zarit, a major reason for differences in these perceptions is that caregivers come to view people with dementia as unable to make their own decisions about daily life. “That is something that does happen as the disease progresses, but the people in our study remained capable of making decisions for themselves and could express their values in a clear and direct way,” said Zarit. “Caregivers who still saw the person with dementia as able to direct his or her daily life were also more in tune with that person’s values and beliefs.”

Source: Caringnews.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Bloomfield Hills or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Top 10 Resolutions for Family Caregivers

Resolution No. 1: Take care of your own health. As we’ve seen in previous issues of Caring Right at Home, family caregivers are less likely to eat well, have regular medical checkups and get enough exercise. This leads to increased risk of depression, high blood pressure, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s disease. This year, resolve to schedule your annual checkup and screenings, and follow your healthcare provider’s wellness instructions.

Resolution No. 2: Take some time for yourself. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, the 65 million Americans who are currently providing care to an elderly or disabled loved one spend an average of 20 hours a week on caregiving tasks. Caregivers may become so focused upon the requirements of their loved one’s care that they lose sight of their own needs. Give yourself permission to focus on yourself.

Resolution No. 3: Hold a family meeting. Do siblings disagree on how elderly loved ones are cared for? Is one sibling providing the lion’s share of care and support? Get together in person or by phone and have a family care planning session. If tensions run high in your family, bring in a social worker, geriatric care manager or other professional to facilitate.

Resolution No. 4: Ask others for help—and be specific. One daughter who is serving as primary caregiver for her father, an elderly stroke patient, asked, “Shouldn’t my family justknow what Dad needs?” The answer might be no! Friends and other family members are often eager to lend a hand, but probably need input from you about the best ways to help.

Resolution No. 5: Learn to say no. As your caregiving workload has grown, have you reassessed the other areas of your life? Are you still hosting the family holiday celebration? Running the school bake sale? Serving on a committee at your faith community? Take stock of your life to decide which activities you truly enjoy, and which ones add to your stress. Explain to others that your caregiving duties make it impossible to keep up some of your normal activities at this time.

Resolution No. 6: Take care of your back. A recent study showed that family caregivers who provide hands-on care for disabled loved ones are at greater risk of back injury. Ask your healthcare provider to instruct you in safe lifting practices and learn about assistive home equipment.

Resolution No. 7: Spend more time with others. Caregivers often report feeling lonely and isolated. Spend more time with old friends and at favorite social gatherings. Consider joining a local support group where you can communicate about feelings and experiences with others who share your situation. Facebook and other social networking sites also offer online support groups.

Resolution No. 8: Laugh a little every day! Humor promotes physical, emotional and cognitive wellness. Laughter lowers stress, relieves tension and even boosts the immune system. Watch comedies on TV and funny videos on YouTube, or read humor publications.

Resolution No. 9: Keep up on current developments in Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other support programs. In these challenging economic times, it’s important to help senior loved ones receive the benefits they have worked for all their lives.

Resolution No. 10: Enlist professional help. The first nine resolutions are all great ideas. But how can busy caregivers carve out enough respite time to take better care of themselves? For many families, professional in-home care is the ideal way to give families a break and help their loved one thrive at home. In-home caregivers can take over many time-consuming and challenging caregiving tasks, including:

• Physical assistance for your loved one, such as bathing, dressing, shaving, transferring from bed to chair, incontinence care and toileting.
• Grocery shopping, planning and preparing delicious meals for your loved one.
• Housekeeping services to keep your loved one’s home clean and safe.
• Companionship to provide stimulation and a mood boost for your loved one.
• Transportation to medical appointments and activities.

Source: Caringnews.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Bloomfield Hills or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Experts urge caregivers to seek help. However, the barriers to accepting support are greater for caregiver spouses than for adult children serving in the same role. Kathryn Betts Adams, professor of social work at Case Western Reserve University, studied the spouses of husbands and wives with dementia and found that they need encouragement to take care of themselves. Adams said, “Caregivers have a long exposure to stresses and losses from the dementia and fatigue that comes from caring for their spouses, so they experience fewer positive emotions. Some may have feelings of guilt about participating in activities with friends or in the community when their loved ones are no longer able to do so.”

Spouse caregivers are also less likely to discuss the problems they are experiencing. The traditional reticence to violate the privacy of the marriage may cause them to bottle up their feelings of stress, frustration and grief. This in turn affects their health and strains their marriage all the more. Support groups, therapists and geriatric care managers can provide a safe outlet.

Professionals may also help with tough decisions about the best living situation for the couple. Some couples choose to move together to an assisted living or continuing care community, where the disabled spouse can receive assistance. When the ill spouse’s needs are medically complex, nursing home care may be the best choice. Nursing home social workers offer counseling on ways the couple can stay connected.

Source: Caringnews.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Birmingham or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

The typical in home caregiver is a middle-aged woman, which means that the typical in home caregiver is likely experiencing some aspect of menopause.

Menopause is the time of a woman’s life when her menstrual cycle stops as the ovaries’ function is reduced and estrogen and other hormones are reduced. The average age for menopause is 51, but the symptoms can be felt for years prior to and during this change.

“With the added burden and stress that result from caregiving, there is certainly the potential that women experiencing menopausal symptoms of mood changes, anxiety, irritability, sadness, and insomnia could be at increased risk of developing clinical depression or have exacerbation of current psychological symptoms,” said Dr. Diane Pace, PhD, a family nurse practitioner and President-elect of the North American Menopause Society.

In a July 2011 article titled “The Stress of Caregiving in Midlife Women,” by Dr. Judith A. Berg, PhD, the author points out both the positive and negative aspects of care giving for this population. Noting that some in home caregivers “experience an improved sense of well-being linked to personal growth and fulfillment,” Dr. Berg states that the majority of these caregivers experience “negative consequences.” These negative consequences include “lowered life satisfaction, interpersonal conflict, psychological distress, social isolation, sleep disturbances, disturbed eating patterns” and more. Part of the dynamic includes working at least part-time, raising children, maintaining relationships, all while caring for a sick and/or elderly loved one.

“Although most women make the transition into menopause without experiencing depression, many women report symptoms of depressed mood, anxiety, stress and a decreased sense of well being,” said Dr. Pace. “Women with a history of clinical depression may be more vulnerable to recurring depression during midlife change.”

The National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP published “Caregiving in the U.S.: A Focused Look at Those Caring for Someone Age 50 or Older” in November 2009. Although approximately 46% rate the emotional stress of caregiving low (a one or two on a five-point scale), 22% indicate they have moderate stress, and about one third (31%) rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high (a four or five).

For some, there is an overlap of symptoms—such as sleep loss from hot flashes or getting up in the middle of the night to help an elderly parent with Alzheimer’s disease—and this can cascade into aggravating both situations.

The North American Menopause Society also has online resources for those going through menopause. One article on their website provides tips on how to distinguish between mood swings and depression. There are also details on hormone and non-hormone prescriptions and treatments for a variety of menopause-related symptoms. “Although data are insufficient to promote consensus recommendations regarding efficacy and safety, women who are not considering prescription interventions might want to be consider options such as soy foods or isoflavone supplements, black cohosh and omega-3 fatty acids,” said Dr. Pace. “Additionally layering clothing to allow adding or removing clothing during flushes, use of a product, Chillow, to help with cooling body temperature, and wicking clothing may help. Therapies such as acupuncture, bio-feedback, massage may provide symptom relief, and certainly counseling should be considered if the symptoms and the stress of caregiving are causing significant issues with coping and functioning.”

Some of the advice for relieving the burden and stress of caregiving is the same as for relieving the symptoms of menopause. “Although caregiving creates incredible challenges on time resources, women need to be reminded that they need to schedule some “personal” time for caring for themselves,” said Dr. Pace. “Health activities like regular visits to their own healthcare provider, nutrition management, exercise, and smoking cessation will promote their ability to continue in the caregiving role with less stress on their own health.”

Source: Homewatchcaregivers.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Farmington Hills or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.

Diabetes & Fitness

Sheri Colberg was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age four and as a child discovered how much better regular exercise made her feel.

“Think of exercise as an extra dose of insulin,” she said. “It’s an alternate way to lower blood sugar naturally.”

Her own experience with diabetes led her to—no, not become a professional athlete—become an exercise physiologist and author of several books on diabetes and fitness. A few of the titles written by Dr. Sheri Colberg include “The Diabetic Athlete,” “Diabetic Athlete’s Handbook” and “The 7 Step Diabetes Fitness Plan.”

Chronic diabetes conditions include type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and both refer to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood glucose (commonly called blood sugar), according to The Mayo Clinic. “Glucose is vital to your health because it’s an important source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. It’s your brain’s main source of fuel,” the Mayo Clinic staff writes on their website. “If you have diabetes, no matter what type, it means you have too much glucose in your blood, although the reasons may differ. Too much glucose can lead to serious health problems.”

Although there are many famous athletes past and present—tennis great Arthur Ashe, for one–who live with diabetes and push themselves physically, the average person withdiabetes can literally take small steps toward being fit.

“Anything under 6,000 steps a day is considered sedentary,” said Dr. Colberg. “Just add a few hundred steps here and there. The easiest thing is to fit it into what you are already doing.”

She suggests that the person with diabetes, or their in home caregiver, maybe leave things across the room so that you have to walk to get your book or glass of water. Another tip is to park the car farther away from your destination to add a few extra steps.

“If people are starting from being couch potatoes, they shouldn’t do anything too fast or too hard,” she said. “If you start out too intensely you risk injury and pain and that is very demotivating.” Dr. Colberg added that there can also be cardiovascular concerns so people should talk to their doctors about what feels right for their own exercise regimen. “Start slowly and progress slowly, and back off if you need to figure out how to proceed,” she said.

The Mayo Clinic recommends regular exercise such as a daily 30-minute brisk walk. “A recent study found that a combination of exercises — aerobic exercises, such as walking or dancing, most days, combined with resistance training, such as weight lifting or yoga twice a week — helps control blood sugar more effectively than either type of exercise alone,” writes the Mayo Clinic staff.

Dr. Colberg describes building muscle as creating a “glucose sink” and said, “If you don’t have that, then there is limited storage capacity.”

And many of these activities can be encouraged and done with a partner, friend, loved one, and caregiver—Tai Chi classes, taking walks, dancing, playing tennis and much more.

Because people with diabetes sometimes lose feeling in their feet, Dr. Colberg said it is imperative that they have good shoes that fit well and moisture-wicking socks to prevent any type of infection. “There should be a visual inspection of their feet daily to check for any blisters,” she said, noting it could be done by an in home caregiver or the individual themselves.

Getting circulation can possibly prevent lower limb amputations, which are not uncommon in people with diabetes. Dr. Colberg said that as a child the only person she knew with diabetes was her grandmother, who was overweight and in the last six years of her life had a heart attack, several strokes and lower limb amputation. “I realized that I don’t want that lack of quality of life,” she said. “That was part of my impetus for my profession was to help people figure how to have quality of life, not just longevity, and to be active and feel good.”

Source: Homewatchcaregivers.com

Contact Pure Home Care Services at (586) 293-2457 today!  If you live in Farmington Hills or the surrounding area, we can help you care for your loved ones.