Quality care is needed for older people with diabetes in care homes—now and for the future

Abstract

We need to improve carers’ skills in diabetes management and technology, writes Martin Scivier As an older person living with diabetes, I am apprehensive about the current and future care of older people with diabetes in UK nursing and residential care homes. This is an area that has been neglected over the years.1 It worries me that I may have to rely on untrained carers who may not fully understand my personal diabetes management, especially use of diabetes technology. I fear my diabetes could be poorly managed and controlled because of staff members’ lack of knowledge. There is an urgent need to ensure safe, quality care for older people with diabetes in care homes and to improve carers’ skills in daily diabetes management and the use of diabetes technology. Over a third of the 5.6 million people with diabetes in the UK are over the age of 65.23It is likely that because of the complications of aging they may need to be cared …