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Telehealth benefits for the elderly under Medicare – here’s what you should know as a caregiver.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has now claimed the lives of over 100 people in the US.

Most people suffer mild symptoms when they contract COVID-19. People over 65 and those who have underlying health issues are the largest population of those dying from the disease.

For elders who may need to get to a hospital to see their doctor, this can pose a serious health threat.

And so, on Tuesday, Medicare said it would expand coverage for telemedicine services to help seniors with health problems to stay home during the pandemic.

What does this mean?

We’ll go over that in this post.

What is telemedicine or telehealth?

Telehealth is healthcare provided over a phone or teleconference device like Skype or Zoom.

You don’t need to see the doctor physically for a consult.

You can talk to them over the phone or via video conference.

Because of the current pandemic, some seniors might have to cancel their physical doctor’s appointment to adhere to local mandates.

With Medicare expanding coverage for telehealth services, this means seniors can receive their medical care remotely.

How can you help as a caregiver?

If your that may not know how to navigate technology, a caregiver can help them set up the call.

If you’re a caregiver who cannot do this, enlist the help of friends, relatives or neighbors who are willing to help.

In order for these telehealth calls to go smoothly, you will need either a smartphone with wifi/data connection or a computer with a webcam and an internet connection.

Once you have these, I strongly advise that you reach out to your doctor and talk to them about your loved one’s telehealth options. Telehealth benefits for the elderly under Medicare might be all your loved one needs for now.

If this works well, there is a chance that Medicare recipients could enjoy telehealth services as a permanent benefit.

As of this writing, the COVID-19 (popularly known as coronavirus) pandemic is in full force.

Italy has shut down the whole country.

Parts of the US have restricted public meetings and are encouraging workers to do their work remotely.

Companies like Amazon have asked their employees to work from home at least until the end of March, 2020.

Reports show that most of the people who have died as a result of the coronavirus are older adults or those who have chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

Even the stock market has been affected by this situation.

It’s alarming and rightly so.

What can you do to support your elderly loved one during this worldwide epidemic?

In today’s post, we’ll talk about the steps you can take to care for your loved one during this season.

PLEASE NOTE: A lot of these steps are useful for a general audience but will pertain mostly to people living in the Greater San Diego and Orange County regions where Green Tree Home Care has offices.

Coronavirus in San Diego – what you should know as a caregiver

The risk in the region is low

As of this writing, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that the coronavirus risk for the Greater San Diego and Orange County areas remains very low.

However, it is still important to take steps to prevent getting infected by the virus.

Those steps include the following.

Stock up on medical supplies and medication

For an elderly loved one who has a chronic condition, the better the chronic condition is managed, the higher the chance that they will not be severely affected by the virus.

Proper chronic disease management may mean:

Ask your doctor if you can stock up on medication.
Be sure to have over-the-counter medications that your loved one could take should they exhibit any symptoms.
Getting disinfecting agents like hand sanitizer, bleach or disinfecting alcohol to wipe surfaces in the home.
If there are other medical supplies that your loved one needs in order to perform daily activities, make sure you’re stocking up on those as well.

Have extra food on hand just in case

People who are coughing, sneezing or who are otherwise sick, have been advised to stay at home.

These people may have to stay at home for a week or longer.

If this happens to your loved one, you want to make they have enough food and water to last that period where they’re indoors.

Avoid public gatherings if you’re sick

Even though the risk in our region is low, it’s important to reiterate that if you’re sick, it is in your best interest (and in the interest of others) to stay at home.

This will reduce the risk that you spread what you have to others.

And it will ensure you or your loved one is not exposed to another troublesome infection – including coronavirus.

And even if they’re not sick, avoiding public gatherings is still helpful for your loved one.

Wash your hands

Hand-washing is a simple yet effective way to prevent the spread of viral and bacterial infections.

The CDC recommends that you wash your hands with soap and water while scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.

For perspective, 20 seconds would be about how long it takes you to sing the “Happy Birthday to you” song one time through.

Wash your hands:

When you use public bathrooms
And when come from outside and into your home
If you shake a lot of hands during the day
Or if the job you do exposes you to sick people on any given day (e.g if you’re a nurse)

Report immediately to a doctor should you experience any symptoms

The symptoms of a coronavirus infection include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

Call the doctor immediately if you observe your loved one showing these symptoms.

Again, while the risk of coronavirus in San Diego remains low, taking the right precautions will limit your or your elderly loved one’s risk for the infection.

How do you spot hearing loss in your elderly loved one?

Hearing loss in the elderly could be difficult to note and observe.

And thus, you and your loved one might seek interventions late. This could pose a safety threat for your loved one.

Hearing loss can mean they don’t hear warning alarms or that they don’t hear a car coming as they cross the street.

In this post, we’ll chat about the signs of hearing loss you should look out for, what interventions you can seek and how to keep your loved one safe.

Hearing loss in the elderly – a guide for the caregiver

The gradual hearing loss that happens as we grow older is a common condition.

In fact, according to the United States National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 1 in 3 adults between 65 and 74 years will experience age-related hearing loss.

Furthermore, half of the people over 75 years old have some age-related hearing loss.

Therefore based on statistics alone, the chances that your loved one will have hearing loss as they age is high.

But you can be prepared for it.

Hearing loss signs to look out for

What signs should you look out for when it comes to hearing loss?

One of the first signs to develop may be an inability to hear high-pitched sounds. Your loved one may have trouble hearing the voices of females or children.
You find that you have to repeat a sentence multiple times to your elderly loved one when you didn’t have to do this before.
You might also notice that your loved one turns the television or radio volume higher than usual.
Having a conversation with your loved one over the phone has become more difficult because of their hearing loss.
Your loved one may also have extra difficulty hearing in areas that are noisy.
They may also complain about having a ringing sound in their ears.
You may notice that they repeat sentences people have spoken to them wrongly.

When you start noticing any of these signs, it is time to consider intervention for your loved one.

…but what causes hearing loss in the elderly?

It’s difficult to distinguish between hearing loss that comes purely from aging and that which comes from lifelong exposure to noise.

What doctors and scientists do know however, is that special cells called stereocilia (sensory hair cells) can become damaged from loud noises, certain medications or from chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes.

Thus, reducing exposure to loud noises, and properly managing chronic health conditions can help to reduce hearing loss.

However, we still don’t know how to fully protect people from age-related hearing loss.

What you can do to help as a caregiver

Hearing problems can be serious. Thus, it is important that you encourage your loved one to see a doctor right away.

This could start with a primary doctor who may then refer your loved one to see an otolaryngologist (commonly called an ENT doctor) or an audiologist.

These professionals may recommend different interventions including:

Hearing aids – These are external devices worn around the ear.
Cochlear implants – Cochlear implants are surgically placed. If your loved one’s hearing loss is severe, a cochlear implant could be an option for them.
Assistive listening devices – These may include devices that amplify sound so your loved one can hear what is being said.
Bone anchored hearing systems – This is also surgically implanted and will help to transmit sound directly through bones around the ear and directly into a person’s inner ear.
Lip reading – Your loved one may be trained to read people’s lips as they speak to make out what a person is saying.

Hearing loss is a challenge to everyone involved and can pose a safety hazard.

When you and your loved one notice signs of age-related hearing loss early, you can seek the right interventions early.

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No matter a person’s age, there are always emotional needs that have to be met.

For most older adults, while they may have been through some rough times in life and have therefore become more emotionally stable, they still need emotional support.

Entering old age comes with its’ own set of difficulties that older people have to deal with.

Scenarios that may cause a sense of frustration in the elderly include:

The loss of friends and loved ones who are older as well
Losing control over certain bodily functions
An increased risk for certain health conditions
A sense that they longer have anything to contribute to society/that people have forgotten their contributions

All of the above and more can cause your elderly loved one to become frustrated.

So, how do you support them in this?

In this post, we’ll talk about meeting the emotional needs of your elderly loved one.

Meeting the emotional needs of your elderly loved one

Acknowledge their feelings – The truth is, nobody wants to feel berated for feeling the way they do about a particular situation. In this case, your elderly loved one doesn’t want to be told to “man up” or to “just get over it”. Losing friends you’ve known for a long time and losing your sense of purpose in this world are situations that cause real grief. The stages of grief were first described by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in 1969. For your elderly loved one, it is likely they are experiencing one sort of grief after the other. Acknowledge that this is a difficult time for your loved one.

Look for symptoms of mental illness – Depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts are common among the elderly. These may be tied to the scenarios I described above. Don’t dismiss any symptoms you see. In fact, you should encourage them to see and talk to a mental health professional. This can be difficult for generations who were taught to be stoic through difficult times, but it’s important that you do your best as a caregiver to encourage them to seek help.

Know their personality – When you know the personality of your loved one, it is easy to spot any changes. Knowledge of your loved one’s personality will also allow you to design activities that will get them excited and involved.

Encourage them to engage in activities that give them a sense of purpose – For a professional who once contributed a lot to society, no longer doing that can cause a sense of frustration. Providing your elderly loved one with an opportunity to volunteer, take active part in family activities and community activities could help them regain that sense of purpose.

Encourage a social life – With many of their longtime acquaintances and friends dying, Mom or Dad may be feeling lonely. An adult day care community for instance, could give them the opportunity to meet new friends they can socialize with.

Emotional health is part of the total health of a person.

Taking care of and meeting those needs are important to helping your loved one enjoy a fulfilling life.

And so, these tips will help you on that quest.

What should a caregiver know about glaucoma in the elderly?

How does the life of your loved one change as a result of it?

What can you do to help them?

In this post, we’ll discuss glaucoma in the elderly and everything you need to know as a caregiver.

Glaucoma in the elderly – Here’s what you should know

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in adults 60 years and over.

The optic nerve, which is extremely essential for eyesight, is damaged in glaucoma.

This is usually caused by unusually high pressure in a person’s eye.

There are no clear warning signs that a person is developing glaucoma.

It develops gradually until it is at an advanced stage.

Vision loss due to glaucoma is typically permanent.

Thus taking good care of your eyes to prevent it from developing, is the best way to stay clear of its’ effects.

Types of Glaucoma

There are different types of glaucoma which all come with different symptoms.

Open angle glaucoma comes with patchy blind spots in your peripheral or central vision, frequently in both eyes and tunnel vision once the disease advances.

The symptoms of acute-angle glaucoma include severe headache, blurred vision, eye pain, nausea, vomiting, eye redness and the person may report seeing halos around lights.

As a caregiver, if you ignore these symptoms, your loved one could become completely blind. Early treatment is the best way to deal with glaucoma.

Risk factors

High pressure in the eyes. For some reason that doctors and scientists cannot fully explain, certain people develop high pressure in their eyes. This happens when the fluid in your eye (also called aqueous humor) doesn’t drain from your eye the way it should normally. Once this happens, there is too much fluid in the eye and this causes pressure on the optic nerve. Eventually, this pressures causes damage to the optic nerve which then leads to glaucoma.
People who are black, Asian or Hispanic, are more likely to develop glaucoma.
You’re at a high risk of the disease if you have someone in your family with it.
Diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure can increase the risk for glaucoma.
Eye injuries.
Having certain types of eye surgeries can increase your risk as well.
Using corticosteroid medications for a long time – certain eye drops contain this – can also increase eye pressure and cause glaucoma later on in life.
Being age 60 and over is also another huge risk factor for glaucoma.

What can you do as a caregiver?

This is where it’s important to know your family health history as a caregiver.

If you don’t know, have that conversation with your elderly loved one.

If your elderly loved one has any of the risk factors listed, glaucoma testing with an eye doctor should be on your calendar. Early intervention is the best way to prevent blindness.

Encourage your loved one to wear eye protection when they are in the sun.

Getting regular dilated eye exams can also detect the disease early so it can be treated. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that people get comprehensive eye exams – which include a dilated eye exam – every 1-2 years if a person is older than 65 years.

Preventing glaucoma starts with early action.

Knowing the symptoms and the risk factors will help your elderly loved one enjoy good eyesight for years to come.

Is it possible to find joy in the midst of care-giving?

If you’re reading this and you’re a caregiver, I just want to remind you of this fact: you’re a hero!

What you have to do every day to care for your loved ones is not an easy feat.

Yet, you wake up each day and do it like a champ.

We’ve talked on this blog a lot about the importance of taking care of yourself as a caregiver.

In fact, the evidence is clear that when you take better care of yourself as a caregiver, you’re more likely to provide better care.

But how exactly do you find joy in the midst of caring for your loved one? Especially when they have a difficult diagnosis?

Perhaps you’re dealing with a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Perhaps it’s some other disease that has been classified as terminal.

How in the world do you find joy in that?

In today’s post, we look at some ways you could find joy in the midst of caring for your loved one with a difficult diagnosis.

Finding joy in the midst of care-giving

You cannot find the good if you just ignore the bad

When a loved one is given a difficult diagnosis, it is part of the grieving process to deny that you’re sad; especially in the beginning.

During this time, you might dedicate all your energy to making plans to take care of your loved one.

It might also be a season where you are learning a lot about the new diagnosis and how you can support your loved one.

In fact, you may be so engrossed in trying to be the best care-giver, that you forget that your emotions are taking a severe hit.

Don’t ignore how you feel.

Allow yourself to grieve.

Giving yourself space to recognize your feelings, document them and process them is the first step finding joy in the midst of caring for your loved one.

This may also mean admitting to yourself that you need to speak to a mental health professional.

Find a support community

There are hundreds and in many cases, thousands of people who are dealing with the same scenario you’re dealing with.

Usually, a health case worker for your loved one or your doctor may have some information on local support groups that you can be a part of.

You will learn a lot of caring techniques others have been successful with.

A support community will also help you navigate the emotions you’re feeling more effectively.

And you won’t feel so alone on your journey when you know that there are others walking the same path as you.

Take time to do things you enjoy

You probably laughed at that headline because you’re thinking, “what time, Gertrude?”

I get it.

If you’re a full-time worker and a full-time care-giver, it can be hard to find any time for yourself.

This is where we can get creative.

Here’s a tip – make it a part of your care-giving routine.

For instance, if you love to read but haven’t had the time for it because you’re care-giving, you could make reading a book to your loved one a part of your routine.

Your loved one will enjoy your company and the chance to participate in an activity.

And you will get to enjoy your reading – even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Care-giving is hard. Finding joy in the midst of it is hard.

But the 3 things we discussed above will go a long way to helping you find joy in the midst of care-giving.

What causes thick toenails in the elderly?

You’ve noticed that mom’s nails have grown thicker, yellow and difficult to cut.

They have kept up with their personal hygiene on a daily basis.

They are taking their medications regularly, so what is the problem?

The truth is that older people are at risk of developing nail changes as part of the aging process.

A dampening in the immune system of elderly people and other age related disorders can all contribute to the thick toenails in the elderly.

Thickened nails usually seem harmless at first. However, in some cases, if they’re left untreated, it could affect the surrounding skin and cause pain.

If these problems advance, they could even impair your loved one’s movements.

In today’s post, we will look at the causes of thickened nails in the elderly and what you can do to treat or reduce the chances of the condition.

What causes thick toenails in the elderly?

Reduced blood flow to the toenails.

Although scientists don’t completely understand why, as people age, blood flow to the furthest parts of the body such as the fingernails and toenails becomes reduces. With this reduction, it means less oxygen is able to reach the toenails. This can lead to thickened and discolored nails.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects the skin. If your loved one has psoriasis, the chances that their nails become thick also increase.

Age-related changes in nail turnover

Regularly, our nails “turnover” or new nail tissue forms to replace the old.

As people get older, the rate at which this happens slows down.

Because of this slow nail turnover, you can have thickening in the toenails.

Fungal infections can cause thick toenails in the elderly

A fungal infection may also be responsible for thick toenails in your loved one.

Fungi thrive in warm and moist areas of the skin.

Improper foot and nail care can lead to these fungal infection developing and therefore causing thick nails.

Footwear that is too tight, feet that are not cleaned properly after a bath, diabetes and reduced blood flow are all precursors to an infection that thickens the nails.

Injury

Injuries can also cause thick toenails in the elderly.

Smoking

Smoking can also cause thickened toenails.

What you can do to help your elderly loved one with thick toenails

So what can you do as a caregiver to help your elderly loved one who has thick toenails?

First of all, I recommend that you see a podiatrist or a dermatologist.

A podiatrist is a trained medical professional who diagnoses and treats diseases of feet and lower limbs.

A dermatologist is a trained doctor who specializes in diseases and conditions of the skin, hair and nails.

Talk to them.

A podiatrist will be able to diagnose what the problem is (if there is an underlying health problem) and prescribe any medication that is needed.

Apart from this, there are things you can do on a daily basis to keep thick nails at bay.

Daily movements to help with blood flow. Like I mentioned above, reduced blood flow to the toenails can cause thick toenails. Helping your elderly get at least 30 minutes of movement throughout the day can help with circulation immensely.
Shoes and socks that fit properly are a must. The right shoes and socks can make a lot of difference when it comes to blood circulation.
Help your loved one dry their feet completely after a bath.
Make sure to cut their nails properly.
The right diet is also important.

Closing thoughts

While thick nails may not be completely avoidable in some cases, it’s possible to reduce how much they occur and their effects on your elderly loved one.

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Is your elderly loved one using a walker?

In this post, I will go over 7 walker safety tips to ensure that your loved one is getting the best use of of their walker while staying safe.

Walker safety for the elderly

Make sure the walker is the right fit for needs and height

As a caregiver, it is important to ensure your loved one’s walker fits their needs and height.

Not having the right type of walker or having one that is not right for your height can cause pain in the wrists, in your back and opens your loved one up to injury.

So make sure to talk to a healthcare provider so that you get the right one.

Get a foldable walker.

A foldable walker is helpful because you will be able to pack it up into the car.

At night, if you want to keep it out of the way, it is easy to do so with a foldable walker as well.

Keep it out of the way at night (but accessible)

To prevent falls, it is important that you keep the walker out of the way for your loved one at night.

For older adults, a simple fall can lead to broken bones, a concussion or even death. Thus it’s always to keep “fall hazards” out of the way.

And for your loved one, leaving a walker in the way during the night could prove to be a fall hazard.

At the same time, it’s important for you to place the walker in an accessible spot so that when your loved one does wake up at night, they can grab the walker easily and transport themselves.

Use the walker properly on a staircase or steps

Climbing the stairs is inevitable.

Most places will have an accessible ramp that makes it easier for people using a walker.

But this is not always the case.

Here’s a video on how to climb the stairs with a walker.

The right footwear

It’s important to wear the right kind of shoes when using a walker.

Flat shoes with a firm grip on the bottom are the best choice to shoes to wear with a walker and prevent injury.

Remove any other fall hazards from the path of your loved one

Frayed rugs, wires that crisscross and other objects in the way of your loved one’s walker can pose an unsafe situation.

Make sure all of these are kept of out the path of your loved one.

Report any discomfort to your doctor

Is your loved one experiencing pain in their legs, arms or back when they use their walker?

Talk to your doctor about it so the right adjustments are made.

Found this post on walker safety for the elderly helpful?

Consider sharing it with someone else.

Although the holidays should be a happy time of the year, this is the time of the year when people are most stressed.

The causes for this stress vary.

Maybe money was tight this year and you can’t get people the gifts you had hoped to get them.

Or perhaps you dread seeing a difficult family member.

Whatever the case, the stress is real and if it is left unchecked, it could affect everything else.

The good news: you don’t have to dread your holidays.

So how do you bust through holiday stress?

In this post, I outline 12 practical tips to help you deal with the end-of-year festivities.

12 practical ways to bust through holiday stress

Be realistic and come to an agreement on gifts – When money is tight, giving gifts can feel like a burden. If you’re experiencing a season of difficulty, don’t force yourself to give lavish gifts. Come to an agreement with whoever you exchange gifts with about your situation. Perhaps, you could agree to stick to gifts under between $20-$50. We promise, you will still enjoy your holidays without an expensive (read: stress-inducing) gift.
Agree to disagree – Do you have different political ideas from someone in your family? Has been this been a cause for fights during family celebrations? Agree to disagree with them. Yes, we can’t always get the other person to change their chosen side but we can agree with them that just for those few hours you’re together, nobody will bring that topic up.
Stay off social media – Social media is well-documented to make people sad. Seeing colleagues at work enjoy family dinners and outings when you’re not doing the same can be depressing. So skip out on it. Delete the app from your phone. Do whatever it takes to avoid social media so you can reduce your stress levels.
Shake up those traditions. – If you’ve had certain holiday traditions for a very long time, it can feel as if you’re just going through the motions. Shake things up a little. Instead the same old traditions, why not try something new? Do you always stay at home for Christmas? If you have the money, how about taking a trip to somewhere nice and warm?
Use your time off to reconnect with fun outdoor activities – Exercise is well-known to boost a person’s sense of well-being. Use your time off from work to enjoy (or try new) outdoor activities. Never hiked before? Go hiking. Is the weather good enough for biking? Ride your bike outside for a few hours. Play football with the family. Incorporate these fun outdoor activities to get out of the house and improve your mood.
Journal your emotions – One of the best ways to combat stress is to first admit to yourself that you’re stressed. Take a pen and paper and write down what you’re going through. Admit that there are areas of your life you’re not happy with. Becoming self-aware of your emotions increases the chances that you will do something to help you heal.
Pick up a fiction book – Pick up your favorite genre of fiction novels and enjoy away!
Saying no is okay – You don’t need to go to the tenth party in a row if you don’t feel like it. Saying no is okay. Explain that you’d like to enjoy some time alone and use that them to recuperate.
Get the sleep you need – There’s the temptation to stay up until the wee hours of the day during the holidays. This can add to your stress levels as well. Stay rested to bust through that stress!
Stick with your daily routine – A lack of a daily routine during the holiday can throw you off. Even though you may not be at work, still create some structure for your day just you’d have a work. You will fair much better and definitely reduce the stress.
Do less. Enjoy more – Around the holidays, there’s always pressure to do so much especially if you’re hosting people in your home. Can you get someone to clean your house for $25 instead of doing it all yourself? Hire them to clean up for you. Instead of cooking all your holiday meals, how about ordering some of those dishes in?
Volunteer – Volunteering is a good way to look beyond ourselves and our problems so we can impact others. It can also help with perspective-you might realize during your volunteer work that even though you have valid problems, some people have it worse.

Those are my 12 tips for busting through holiday stress.

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People who have Type 2 diabetes struggle with wound-healing.

This is because blood flow to the extremities (hands and feet) of a diabetic can become limited. In addition, the disease can damage nerves in the hands and feet. Therefore, if they sustained a wound, it is possible they would not feel it until it was too late.

Thus, even for a person who has done a good job of keeping their blood sugar in check, wound healing may be a challenge.

This can lead to serious infections that spread and ultimately lead to amputation.

There is no way you can ignore proper foot and nail care for your loved one, as a caregiver. You’ll need to learn how to care for (or help your loved one care for) their feet and nails to avoid the scenarios above.

In this post, I will share steps you can take to ensure your loved one continues to get their nail care, while reducing the probability for injury.

Foot and nail care for your elderly loved one who is diabetic

Clean the feet daily

Cleaning feet daily with a wash cloth and warm soapy water is the first step to providing foot and nail care.

If you’ll be helping them, make sure to clean in between their toes.

After washing make sure to dry their feet completely.

Bacteria and other micro-organisms thrive in areas of the body that are warm and moist.

If there is any break in the skin at all, these bacteria can enter and cause havoc.

Cut nails straight across

It’s also important to cut their nails straight across instead of curving them. A nail file is helpful here.

Ingrown toenails are a painful result of nails that curved when they are cut.

This can also lead to infections and other foot problems, especially for a diabetic.

Eat healthy

Eating the right foods in healthy proportions can help with wound healing.

Fruits and vegetables for instance are rich in Vitamin C.

Vitamin C has been known for a long time to help the body with healing.

Eating the right proportions of protein is also helpful when it comes to healing.

So help your loved one enjoy a balanced diet on a daily basis.

Exercise helps too

As I mentioned before, diabetes can lessen blood flow to the feet.

Although, one of the ways to improve blood flow to the extremities is through exercise.

Even just a simple 30-minute daily walk can be enough to get blood flowing the right way.

Talk to a doctor about foot and nail care for your loved one who is diabetic

Podiatrists are doctors who are trained in providing medical care for the feet.

I recommend that your loved one sees a podiatrist on a regular basis to receive expert care and guidance.

They can even help with cutting your loved one’s nails.

In addition to this, a medical doctor could prescribe special socks and shoes that protect your loved one’s feet.

If you have a loved one who is bedridden, a doctor may prescribe TED (Thromboembolitic Deterrent) hoses to help with blood circulation. TED hoses may look like regular pantyhose but they are effective in improving blood flow.

For a loved one who is able to walk around on their own, your doctor may prescribe compression socks to help with blood flow.

If you’ve never heard of any of these, ask your doctor about them.

Foot and nail care for your elderly loved one who is diabetic is important.

In fact, their lives could depend on it.

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