Quality nutrition is made important all throughout life, but it can become an even great issue in the elder years. Your loved one may have trouble maintaining their own healthy nutrition without the ability to shop easily or even drive to the store on a regular basis. With trouble walking or standing for long periods of time, a trip to the store may only be one that allows for the collection of a few staple items, and then an immediate return home. Without a diet full of healthy nutrients, your senior loved one may not be getting everything that they need to keep their life going comfortably and healthily. Maintaining quality nutrition and a healthy lifestyle is important for seniors, and it is something that they may not be able to do for themselves when living alone in their elder years. Therefore, home care can be very helpful.
Have Home Care Keep Your Senior’s Good Diet
You may have determined by now that your senior has inadequate nutrition sources at home while they are living alone and attempting to cook their own meals on a daily basis. One well-balanced meal making its way to the table every day, let alone three, can be a challenge for anyone. This can be even harder for a senior who has problems with mobility, chronic pain, or other health issues. With all the tasks included in home care for your senior, nutrition is likely one of the most important factors. If your loved one has special diet needs or trouble even tasting the food you make, there is much to be considered in the supplements and meals combined that your loved one must have.
Food is the body’s greatest fuel and its most common medicine, too. For elderly individuals with chronic illnesses, quality nutrition is one of the most important things on the table. This means that home care is most helpful to put those healthy meals on the table while also sitting down to eat in a positive and pleasant nature. You know that it can be hard on a senior once their appetite is lost or at least reduced.
Important Nutrients for Your Senior
Most vitamins, minerals, and nutrients come from a well-balanced diet, but this can be hard when there are items your senior may have trouble eating. Some of the most important nutrients include the following:
- B vitamins.
- Calcium and vitamin D for strong bones.
- Fiber for the heart, helps prevent diabetes, and keeps you regular to avoid constipation.
- Healthy fats.
- Potassium for healthy blood pressure.
Tips to Make Nutrition Easier
Some helpful tips for improved nutrition include keeping balanced meals on your senior’s plate, avoiding bad fats (saturated, trans fat, and cholesterols), keeping many colors in the veggies and fruits on their plate, and sticking to the basics needed. Your loved one may have challenges with chewing and swallowing, even if they have a trouble with their appetite when it could be something with their dentures or other issues. It is helpful to make sure that different food and drink items in the meal do not have excess salt or sugar added, and to add flavor with natural juices like lemon juice or others.
There may be other issues faced by your senior such as mouth soreness, strength reduction, or coordination issues. Any of these could simply make it hard to eat, and it is important for your home caregiver to pass this information along as it could be discussed with your loved one’s doctor.
Most importantly, add water. Every meal needs to have a drink with it, but it is most important to help with digestion. Water is recommended as the most common drink that needs to be taken in with every meal, at least on a certain amount. It is important to avoid drinks with added sugars or that may be heavy in salt. If your senior likes milk, then fat-free or low-fat tend to be the best option. With all of these nutrition needs, a home care service is able to help with all the health needs of your loved one no matter what time of day it may be.
Sources
https://www.precisionnutrition.com/nutrition-for-seniors
https://www.pathwayshealth.org/home-health-topics/promoting-healthy-nutrition-elderly-six-ways-home-health-care-makes-difference/
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/senior-nutrition#1
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HOME CARE IN LAS VEGAS, NV, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF SUMMERLIN. 702-800-4616.