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Help Reduce the Stigma this National Diabetes Week!

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National Diabetes Week is held July 10-16th and is held every year to raise awareness about
diabetes. With over 1.8 million Australians having diabetes, it is considered the biggest challenge confronting Australia’s healthcare system. For every person diagnosed with diabetes, there is often a family member or carer who also ‘lives with diabetes’ every day in a support role. With diabetes the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia, this awareness week is a reminder of the significant impact diabetes has within our community1.

At Home Care Assistance we are aligned with Diabetes Australia’s focus for National Diabetes Week on challenging existing diabetes related stigma, as it can lead to people not sharing their diagnosis with others and not seeking the help and support they need to stay well and manage their diabetes properly.

Sadly, it has been found that four out of five people living with diabetes in Australia, have experienced stigma at some point, irrespective of the ‘type’ of diabetes people have been diagnosed with. Some reasons as to why people feel stigma when it comes to their diabetes can include:

  • Being judged when eating specific foods
  • Being blamed for causing their diabetes
  • Being treated differently with unnecessary comments or stares when injecting insulin or having a hypo
  • Feelings of shame and self-blame

This stigma can have a consequential impact on one’s mental and emotional health and can result in people disengaging from their diabetes healthcare. As there is no cure for diabetes, the condition requires lifelong management. When people become disengaged in properly managing their diabetes, this can cause an increased risk of serious diabetes-related complications.

Some of the most serious diabetes complications can include:

  • Blindness: Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Australia3.
  • Amputations: in Australia there are more than 4,400 amputations every year as a result of diabetes with more than 1,700 people dying as a direct result of lower limb wounds or foot ulcers4.
  • Heart Disease: The number one cause of death, affecting two thirds of all deaths for people with type 2 diabetes is heart disease. Between 11,000 to 33,000 Australians (1-3% of those with type 2 diabetes) will suffer a diabetes-related heart attack each year5.
  • Kidney Disease: It is estimated over 360,000 Australians with diabetes are living with kidney disease with many on dialysis and/ or have received a kidney transplant6.

There is no doubt that integrating the emotional and mental aspects of diabetes is increasingly important when it comes to routine holistic care. That’s why at Home Care Assistance our proprietary Balanced Care Method™ for all our clients involves a holistic approach for a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Not just focussing on healthy nutrition and physical activity but also overall mental wellness through cognitive stimulation and a sense of calm.

Our compassionate Care Workers at Home Care Assistance can care for you or your loved one who has diabetes. Additionally, if your loved one is recovering from a serious diabetes- related complication and requires short-term, ongoing or 24-hour additional in-home care, Home Care Assistance can provide essential assistance with things such as:

  • Medication reminders
  • Mobility assistance
  • Personal assistance, including hygiene and dressing
  • Meal preparation and shopping 
  • Exercise encouragement and support 
  • Transportation and errands assistance

When it comes to managing your diabetes, you do not need to do it alone or be silent about requiring additional support and assistance to manage this chronic condition. It is about time we help change the conversation and challenge the stigma of existing beliefs people may have about diabetes. Instead, we should give the huge number of Australians who do have diabetes the support they need to manage and live well with the disease. After all, how would you feel if you were judged for living with a health condition that anyone can get?

References:

1 https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au
2 https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/news/diabetes-australia-to-tackle-diabetes-related-stigma-for-national-diabetes-week/
3 https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/The-economic-impact-diabetic-macular-oedema.pdf
4 https://www.diabeticfootaustralia.org/wp-content/uploads/Australian-diabetes-related-foot-disease-strategy-2018-2022-DFA.pdf
5 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/diabetes/deaths-among-people-diabetes-australia-2009-14/summary
6 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/cardiovascular-diabetes-chronic-kidney-prevalence/summary

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    We offer private and government subsidised Care Packages and have office locations that are a registered NDIS provider. Our Care Workers undergo extensive training in order to deliver unmatched in-home aged care services where people can continue ageing in place. We are proud ambassadors of the My Aged Care government funded aged care program, enabling Australians to successfully navigate the process and gain approval for in-home care support packages. Home Care Assistance offers hourly care, specialised care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, hospital to home care, and 24 hour in home care.

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    “Home Care Assistance are the true definition of higher class care. The team at HCA listened to our needs and we weren’t just another customer. Our carer arrives on time every time and helps with the... difficult tasks like cleaning and washing. The carer also takes us shopping so we don’t have to think about driving to the shops anymore. Thank you HCA, we don’t worry about how we will live at home anymore.”read more
    My husband had two major strokes 6 years ago which turned our lives upside down over night. two years ago we were given the opportunity to look for a provider to help us make life easier at home for... my husband. We choose a provider and had them for two years. I can't tell express enough of how that ended up causing us so much stress and anxiety as they were in this business for the wrong reasons, very money orientated as fees were astronomical and the service was equally as bad. My husband even had a bad accident on his scooter where he could of been killed at Helensvale and some low life also stole his mobile phone while he was on the ground so he could not contact anyone but not even a word from my provider to say how sorry they were to hear that, it meant nothing, like I said just in it for the money. After two years I had had enough and found a provider by the name of Home Care Assistance. We have only been with them for one month and already it has made a huge difference to our lives, the stress levels are manageable now as they are absolutely in this business of caring for the elderly and disabled for the RIGHT reasons, they have been nothing but professional, kind and caring and they actually listen to what our needs are even though they are sometimes of the chart, but what counts is that it is to make my husbands life better, he is the one who was unlucky in life to have this happen to a very kind soul at a young age. We needed help and now we have it. The director of this company Michelle and our client advisor Jourdan have been the best and I can honestly say to anyone out there looking for a provider, as there are many, don't look any further than Home Care. If anyone would like to speak to me personally, pls get in touch with HomeCare as I will gladly tell u our story and how important it is that when tragedy strikes and you are a mess, you really need that help and support. I can't thank Home Care enough for everything in such a short time. I feel blessed to have found them.read more
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    I looked long and thoroughly before I selected a care provider for my husband who has dementia. Being with Home Care Assistance for almost a year, has confirmed all my expectations. And more.As a... carer I feel very supported by David and Meg. They are always available by phone or email, and this means a lot. But perhaps the best quality of their organisation is the high calibre and personalised choice of all the care givers they have provided for us - whether it be someone to spend time with my husband or someone to slash our overgrown yard.I have no hesitation in recommending Home Care Assistance - and, indeed, have already done so.Pamela Payneread more
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    Kristi is my personal Carer who does a wonderful job and at the same time she is very caring. Kristi is like one of the family and does not need any direction, she comes and does her work in a... professional manner. I also want to say that Michelle & Jourdan who run the Carers company is the best Carer's Company I have ever been with, they are so caring in every way, I wish there were more stars I could give them Congratulations to them, Blessings Rosalie Muir.read more
    I have recommended Home Care Assistance Newcastle to a few friends now. After having a bad experience with another service provider, Kerrie went above and beyond to help my mother, who has dementia,... with new services. Kerrie, Mark and their team are compassionate, professional and genuinely care about their clients.read more
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    This is the best home care company in Australia !
    The whole team at Home Care Assist are amazing. I can't begin to tell you how much help Geoff Doherty was to me when I was trying to navigate the Aged Care process. The Coffs Harbour team led by... Rachael, who is a wonderful caring and helpful manager, is an absolute gem. My every need is taken into consideration and the staff employed to do the actual caring/cleaning are second to none. Nothing is too much trouble. I need Physio and Hydrotherapy services and Emily, who is also a absolute gem always pays the providers promptly and they are very grateful for that. I would highly recommend this service to anyone looking for Caring, Compassionate, timely and reliable care.read more
    I have changed the company who provided care for my mother to Home Care Assistance who are based at the Gold Coast. With the previous company I had 40 different carers over 3 years and now have the... same carer 5 days a week. My mother was with the same big company for 20 years. I requested they send the same carer on certain days but really did not care about my mothers or my needs. When someone is blind and deaf they do not need a carer coming into the house who has not been here before.The carers with Home Care Assistance are paid a better hourly rate than the previous company and their admin costs are far cheaper and now saving $600 a month which can now give me more hours.If you have elderly parents looking to change from the BIG providers give them a call. Michelle and Jourdan have been great to deal with and very caring.I highly recommend this company.They have carers looking for work and need more clients to make the transfer.read more
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    Lovely staff
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    Megan is very good care manager.
    Great service helpful staff that can't do enough for you and very reasonable fees
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    At the beginning of this year I interviewed several care companies searching for help with my mum who is totally dependant every day.Mum was quite resistant to the idea of having strangers coming in... to her home, she felt very uncomfortable, but I was desperate at the same timefeeling guilty. When speaking with Jourdan as we discussed HCA & theirpolicies, prices, priorities I felt that this was the right company for my mum & I. The interest in my mums needs & her fears were clearly important, which put me at ease making this new journey a little easier.From the 7th March we have received excellent care. Whatever we asked for has been received. The carers who attend to my mum are perfectly matched to her needs, she now feels safe, very comfortable & well cared for, she is also looking forward to their visits. The services we require are cleaning, meals, companionship & most of all friendliness. All of these are of a high standard. Mum & I are very grateful to all at Home Care Assistance Gold Coast. Glenis & Normaread more
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    Would recommend to everyone
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    In November I was looking for a New Provider for my package.Fortunately I found HOME CARE ASSISTANCE in SOUTHPORT Qld.Immediately after my phone call MISCHELLE,and JOURDAN VisitedMy home to... explain the care I needed,and immediately everythingWas put into place.My Care Givers are of First class help to me,Highly qualified and have allRelevant TRAINING. FIRST AID-CPR-and Police checks are currentAlso INSURANCE.I am just so Happy with the service,also Quality and Love, given by allStaff.THANK YOU Home CAre Assistance. All my problems are now solvedAnd this is a major relief for my HEALTHI would RECOMMEND your Company to Anyone. THANKS AGAINread more
    A thank you to the team at Hone Care Assistance from the Gold Coast, for taking extrodinary measures to look after my parents. A well organised and professional manner, thank you again..
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    Highly recommend.
    Homecare assistance is a high quality company run by friendly and highly qualified faces, I could not recommend the company enough to those who need it
    So blessed. Such a wonderful team to take care of me, keeping my life simple and enabling the very best I could wish for. Thank you, Meg and Dave!
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