For more information on the author Home Instead Fort Myers, CLICK HERE.Seniors who receive a diagnosis of diabetes may feel they have to give up all the foods they love. Thats not entirely true. Sure, they may have to say no to ice cream and white bread, but you can help the senior you care for adapt by offering new choices that will satisfy his or her desire for sweets and starches while keeping blood sugar levels stable.Say yes to these 10 choices the American Diabetes Association calls diabetes superfoods:1. BerriesSome fruits contain as much sugar as candy does, but berries go on the safe list for seniors with diabetes. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries -- they all offer a sweet touch to any meal without elevating blood sugar levels too much.2. Skim milk and fat-free yogurtChoose milk fortified with Vitamin D, which can help seniors maintain bone health. When it comes to yogurt, look for sugar-free varieties. A fruity cup of yogurt makes a great dessert for seniors with diabetes.3. Citrus fruitsAvoid fruit juices (which almost all contain added sugar) and go for the whole fruit. Oranges, lemons and limes can be eaten whole or used to add zest to other dishes. The exception? Grapefruit. Most seniors should avoid this citrus fruit because it contains compounds that may interact with medications. Be sure to talk with your loved ones physician or pharmacist to understand how foods might affect medications.4. Sweet potatoesSweet potatoes satisfy that craving for a starch with the meal but don't cause post-meal blood sugar spikes the way white and red potatoes do.5. Whole grainsWhole grain breads, oatmeal, brown rice and barley allow your senior to enjoy bread with meals. Slow-digesting whole grains taste great and generally don't negatively affect blood sugar levels the way refined grains like white flour can.6. TomatoesSeniors with diabetes can consume tomatoes to their hearts content. Tomatoes are loaded with Vitamins C and E, along with iron. Eat them raw or cooked. (Read the labels of canned tomatoes and spaghetti sauces, which can contain undesirable levels of added sugar and salt.)7. Dark Green Leafy VegetablesThese nutrient powerhouses include spinach, kale, collard greens, beet greens and many others. Seniors who take a blood-thinning medication like warfarin (Coumadin) should avoid dark green leafy vegetables, but all others can consume these with abandon. Again, be sure to talk with your loved ones physician or pharmacist to understand how foods might affect medications.8. BeansPacked with fiber, beans of all types -- navy, kidney, pinto -- provide protein along with the essential minerals magnesium and potassium.9. Fatty fishChoose fresh or frozen fish like salmon once a week or more to garner the healthful effects of its Omega-3 fatty acids. Canned salmon and tuna count, too, and may provide a more affordable option.10. NutsAlmonds, walnuts, pecans and other tree nuts provide nutrients and protein, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable. Go for unsalted varieties.Changing ones eating pattern can be very difficult, especially for elderly loved ones. Instead of telling them what they cant eat, help your senior with diabetes overcome dietary challenges by suggesting foods they can say yes to every day.

For more information on the author Home Instead Fort Myers, CLICK HERE.When you visit your aging parents lately, do you sometimes notice things that seem off about them? Maybe Dad cant find his medications anymore, or Mom wont talk about that mysterious dent on the car. Maybe one time you noticed that one of them left a kettle boiling on the stove.These are universal somethings not right signs that might give you pause. You may wonder how you can be there for your parents when you cant be there all the time. You may ask yourself if its time to think about getting an in-home caregiver to help your parents age safely and comfortably at home.To help you tell if your parents may need more help than your'e able to provide, look for these signs that they may need assistance:Missed medication: Missed doses and medication mistakes can lead to very serious medical complications.Mysterious dent: Look for evidence of parking or speeding tickets, fender-benders, dents and scratches on the seniors car.Piling mail or unpaid bills: Seniors can feel overwhelmed by the simple task of opening, sorting and responding to mail let alone performing more complex tasks like paying bills or balancing the checkbook.Lost walker: Misplacing vital items like their walker or the housekeys or leaving them behind in a restaurant or retail store can indicate cognitive decline that would benefit from professional caregiving.Piles of laundry or dishes stacked in the sink: Many older adults become too tired or frail to cope with the usual housework.Poor personal grooming: Showering, shaving and other grooming tasks take energy your parents may no longer have. Or they may stop grooming because they feel unsafe getting in and out of the tub on their own.Reports of falling: One in four Americans over age 65 fall each year, and falls are a leading cause of death among older adults. That's a shame, because most senior falls are preventable.Any of these signs of decline should trigger a discussion about the types of support your aging parents need. That can be a tough conversation to have, but you need to have it to keep your parents safe and well in their own home. Use these tips to open the conversational door:Be empathetic. Try to put yourself in your parents shoes. Nobody likes the idea of becoming unable to keep up the house or take a shower safely. Try to draw out their feelings about how things are going and re-state the messages youre hearing so they know youre reading them correctly.Focus on maximizing their independence. Many older adults fear being sent away to a nursing home or some other institution. Emphasize early in the conversation that your goal is to help them stay safe and well at home for as long as possible.Develop a plan. Together, you and your parents can create a plan that meets their needs in the moment and expands as they need more help.Seek out resources. Don't try to create this plan alone.Seek out information from your Area Agency on Aging, senior centers and your local Home Instead Senior Care office. These experts will be able to help you develop a solid plan that makes life easier for Mom and Dad for years to come. You and your parents don't have to go it alone. Schedule a free, in-home Care Consult with Home Instead Senior Care to get an objective evaluation of how your parents are doing on their own. Well conduct a home safety check, review the ability to perform activities of daily living, assess medication management, perform a social assessment and then make recommendations for a care plan that will serve your family's needs today and can scale up in the future, if desired.

Routine visits to the doctor are a key tool in maintaining our health as we age. But over the past 12 months, many older adults and their caregivers have delayed care because of the COVID-19 pandemic, opting to cancel medical appointments due to fear of exposure to the virus.According to a nationwide survey by the National Opinion Research Center at the University Chicago, 1 in 6 older adults delayed or canceled essential medical treatment in the first month of the pandemic alone. Of those who deferred care, almost 40% put off non-essential treatment, while nearly a third went without preventative or primary care.Checkups Key to Managing Chronic IllnessBecause regular checkups are essential to maintaining good overall healthas well as preventing and/or detecting the progression of common diseasesmissing appointments can be particularly devastating for older adults managing chronic illnesses.Routine visits to the doctor are a fundamental investment in our physical well-being and become increasingly important as we age, says Dr. Lakelyn Hogan, Ph.D., gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead. Seniors are typically more susceptible to chronic diseases and conditions, and yearly checkups allow doctors to monitor and observe changes in a patients health, identify signs of illness early on and recommend the necessary treatments.Scheduling time to see a health care provider can feel overwhelming for older adults, especially with the added fear of COVID-19. The best way to navigate this process is by preparing in advance. Below, Hogan shares a few suggestions to help aging adults plan ahead for a visit to the doctor and better anticipate what to expect.5 Ways to Help Aging Adults Plan Ahead for a Doctors VisitDo your homework. Health concerns and needs change over time, and so has the current health care landscape. Before making an appointment, spend time researching which doctor best aligns with your needs and objectives for your checkup. What type of doctor are you looking for? Are they conveniently located? Are they within your insurance network? Do they have a positive reputation? What COVID-19 protocols have they put in place? Its important to be thorough in your research and find someone who will make you feel comfortable.Explore appointment options .Due to the pandemic, many physicians have expanded options to offer virtual visits. While several practices have resumed in-person checkups, some doctors may still only offer virtual visits. If preferred, telemedicine appointments offer many benefits including convenience, limited exposure to germs and increased ability for caregivers or family members to act as advocates in real time. Talk to your provider about options for the safest way to schedule your visit and make sure to plan ahead for both options, either by arranging transportation to and from the doctors office or setting up a virtual workstation with good internet connection.Bring everything needed for a successful visit. Before a checkup, prepare to bring all necessary documents, such as a list of current medical conditions, allergies and medications, as well as up-to-date insurance information, health records and test results, if needed. It is also a good idea for aging adults and their caregivers to compile a list of questions to ask and any new information that needs to be shared since the last visit. This information will help the appointment flow more efficiently and effectively. Its also a good time to ensure that vaccinations are up to date. And remember to bring up any questions about the flu or COVID-19 vaccine.Don't overlook specialists .In addition to scheduling regular visits with primary care physicians, older adults and caregivers should make plans to see specialists such as the eye doctor and dentist on an annual basis .For example, an ophthalmologist can help catch early signs of age-related eye problems, including vision loss and cataracts.Follow public health guidelines .If planning for an in-person visit, remember to follow standard COVID-19 precautions. This includes wearing a face mask, using hand sanitizer, avoiding touching your face, practicing social distancing and following any additional staff directives.While visiting the doctor is important at any age, it is especially crucial for older adults who face greater risks.For older adults or caregivers who still have reservations about visiting a medical provider, telemedicine has made it possible to visit your doctor over the phone or via video session, presenting older adults with additional alternatives to in-person visits.Whether scheduling an appointment virtually or in-person, now is the time to prioritize that annual checkup.Submitted and Written By: Home Instead - click here for more information