It is true that as your parent gets older his or her risk of diabetes increases. However, not all elderly people are diabetic. To prevent diabetes, your home care provider can assist your parent in weight loss techniques and maintaining a healthy diet. If your parent is overweight, it may be in their best interest to observe a healthier diet. This may assist them in losing unwanted extra pounds while providing them with the correct nutrients and proteins needed for their aging body and lifestyle. Although their appetites may not signify hunger, your parent may nosh all day. Eating could very well become their activity of choice. This, coupled with inactivity, could lead to weight gain and increased risk for diabetes.

However, if your parent is encouraged to remain active in an area of life they enjoy such as working, volunteering, exercising, walking, painting or music, they will more likely burn off those extra calories. A home care provider can help your loved one become more involved with the activities he or she enjoys by offering transportation and mobility assistance to make participation easier. By making it easier to re-engage in life, your parent’s eating habits may change for the better and ultimately prevent diseases like diabetes.

With the assistance of a home care provider, both you and your mother or father can learn about preventing diabetes through lifestyle coaching. Your elderly parent is not too old to make the changes necessary to live a healthy, disease-free life with prevention guidance. It is often difficult for you to guide your mom or dad to the variations in diet or activities that will best suit them. Sometimes outside home care sources will open the doors for better health.

As you guide your parent to the home care provider for better health choices, you too will be learning and guiding yourself to a healthier future.