Home Care Nurses Play Key Role in Assessing Clients’ Diabetes Self-Care Knowledge

​Diabetes affects more than one-quarter of U.S. adults age 65 or older and is likely to be a primary or secondary reason for referral to home care services, making assessment of individuals' self-care ability of primary importance for home care nurses, according to an article in the September 2014 Home Healthcare Nurse. After assessment, educating clients about diabetes and their care is "the key nursing intervention in diabetes," the author states. Nurses should ask clients about any formal diabetes education they have received, including how long ago it took place and whether it included nutritional education and meal planning.