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Food to Avoid When Your Senior Has Arthritis

Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV
Companion Care at Home in Henderson NV

Arthritis symptoms may be improved by adopting dietary modifications. Inflammatory meals like saturated fat and sugar should be avoided. Purine-rich foods may also have to be avoided. However, your seniors may not be as focused as they should on their diet because it may hurt to move around and cook. This leads them to go for easier meals that involve less cooking on their end. If this sounds like your senior, is it time to consider someone who can watch out for them each day and may be able to help with light cleaning, dressing, bathing, and, most importantly, light cooking.

Finding the right companion care at home will be a huge help for seniors who are trying to age in place with painful arthritis. And having someone with them who can do certain tasks easier may allow them to live a higher quality life and focus on things like what foods will worsen their pain and inflammation.

Seniors Should Focus On Fats

Certain types of fats actually make arthritis worse by causing inflammation. A senior should avoid several types that may make things much worse for them. Unfortunately, many of these come in pre-packaged foods that are easy to make.

  • Omega 6 fatty acids- When consumed in reasonable amounts, omega 6 fatty acids aren’t dangerous. However, the average American consumes much too much of them.
  • Saturated Fats- This fat may be found in meat, cheese, and butter. People should consume fewer than 10% of their daily calories from saturated fat.
  • Trans Fats- This fat is detrimental to human health because it lowers “good” cholesterol, elevates “bad” cholesterol, and increases inflammatory levels. In recent years, manufacturers have removed trans fats from most prepared meals, but check the nutrition information panel to be certain.

They Should Avoid Eating Too Much Sugar

According to research, people who consume sugar-sweetened soda have an elevated risk of RA. Excess sugar intake also raises the chance of dying from cardiovascular disease. Obesity, inflammation, and other chronic disorders might also result. Unfortunately, tons of easy meals have added sugar to preserve it and make things taste better. This is not good for you and certainly not good for seniors struggling with inflammation.

Nightshades

You may be wondering precisely what nightshade is? It is any of the following:

  • tomatoes
  • bell peppers
  • chili peppers
  • eggplant
  • potatoes

If you think this is something your senior overeats, it’s time to encourage them to keep a food diary. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they should keep track of calories, but to keep track of what they eat and how they feel later on. If a senior cuts something out of their diet and has fewer flare-ups, they may need to stay away from nightshade to stay healthy.

Food High in Purines

Uric acid is formed when the body breaks down purines, found in many meals. Gout attacks may occur when uric acid builds up in the circulation. These types of food include:

  • red meat or cured meats
  • organ meat, such as liver
  • beer and other alcohol
  • some seafood, such as mussels and scallops

Steering clear of these foods may help lower the chance of getting gout but also minimize inflammation.

If you are considering companion care at home in Henderson, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

5 Ways Home Care Assistance Can Benefit Your Senior in Summer

Home Care Assistance in Henderson NV
Home Care Assistance in Henderson NV

Hot weather is a huge problem for everyone during long summer days, but it is especially dangerous for the elderly. Bringing in home care assistance for your elderly family member can help her to stay cool and safe, even as the temperatures climb this summer. There are a lot of different ways that caregivers can make your senior’s life more comfortable, and the ideas in this list are just a few of them.

Keeping Track of Your Senior’s Hydration

Drinking plenty of water during the hotter months of the year can make a tremendous difference in how your senior is feeling. Remembering to do so on a regular basis can be a problem, though. Home care assistance can help your elderly family member to remember to keep sipping on cool water or other hydrating beverages throughout the day. Dehydration can be life-threatening for your senior, so taking steps to avoid it is crucial.

Helping Her to Rest When it’s Hot Out

Overexerting herself when it is already hot out can be disastrous for your senior. That’s even more true if she is battling health issues that make it difficult for her to be active at all. Elder care providers are able to handle tasks that are becoming too much for your senior, helping her to conserve her energy and rest so that she can stay cool during the day.

Ensuring She’s Eating Healthy Foods that Suit the Weather

It’s pretty universal that most people don’t enjoy eating heavy, hot foods during the summer. But keeping up with meal preparation at all, especially healthier foods, can be a little more difficult than your senior might expect it to be. Not eating isn’t an option, so it’s important to have caregivers available who can remind your senior to eat meals and snacks that are comfortable in the hot weather but also full of nutrition.

Helping Your Senior to Dress for the Weather

Lots of seniors find that they have a different sense of temperature as they age. Or memory issues can cause difficulties for your elderly family member, causing her to forget that it’s summer instead of winter. Home care assistance can help your senior to wear clothing that is appropriate for the weather, helping her to stay cool instead of possibly contributing to overheating.

Keeping Your Senior Company

Your elderly family member might not feel like doing a lot when it’s hot out, and that’s not unusual at all. Home care assistance will spend time with your elderly family member, reading, watching her favorite movies, or simply talking. While they’re with your aging family member, they’re focused on ensuring that she’s comfortable and that she’s also safe. That’s a huge relief for you when you’re not able to check in on her personally as much as you might want to be able to.

Staying safe in hot weather is essential for aging adults. The more help that you can offer your elderly family member during the hottest months of the year, the better and safer for her.

Source
https://www.webmd.com/women/features/surviving-summer

If you are considering home care assistance in Henderson, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Employee of the Month – July 2022

Golden Heart Senior Care is proud to announce that Thanalaxmi J. is our employee of the month for July 2022.

Thanalaxmi is from Malaysia. She is married and has two wonderful boys. She enjoys being a caregiver because she loves hearing stories from her clients past and where people grew up and different adventures people have been on. Thanalaxmi always has a smile on her face and joy in her heart.

Golden Heart is very luck to have Thanalaxmi on our team!

What Is 24-hour Home Care?

24-Hour Home Care in Las Vegas NV
24-Hour Home Care in Las Vegas NV

There are a lot of different types of care available for aging adults and the right one for your senior depends a great deal on what exactly she needs. 24-hour home care is a particular type of care that ensures your senior always has a care provider there with her. This is an important type of care in all sorts of different situations. Here’s what you and your senior need to know.

Someone Is Always There with Her

With this type of care, home care providers are right there with your senior, all day and all night. There’s never a time that she’s left on her own, and that can be a vital part of her care. No matter what your senior needs help managing, there is someone right there who can give her that assistance.

They Get to Know Her Needs

Usually, multiple caregivers are rotating shifts to help your senior. That means that a few people get to know her needs really well, which is great news. They’re able to get to know your elderly family member’s preferences also, ensuring that she’s surrounded by caregivers who are there to ensure she’s safe and happy.

Caregivers Are Prepared for Nighttime Issues

Issues overnight are common for aging adults, especially if they have some specific health concerns, like dementia. Wandering, sundowning, and other overnight conditions are much easier to manage with 24-hour home care. There’s an alert caregiver right there with your senior to address any needs she might have in those dark hours at night. Your senior is both safe and comforted.

Around the Clock Care Promotes Aging in Place

Having 24-hour home care right there with your senior ensures that she doesn’t have to go anywhere. And if her biggest goal was to remain in her own home for as long as possible, she’s able to do exactly that with this level of assistance. For some seniors, moving from their home is a tragedy that can bring with it a host of emotional responses and grief that could be avoided simply by having some help staying in place.

You’ve Got Peace of Mind about Your Senior’s Care

It’s also essential that you feel safe and secure in the care that your senior is receiving. When you can’t be there with her, it’s a peaceful feeling to know that there is someone there with her. Your elderly family member has hands-on help and you’ve got access to someone who can tell you exactly how your elderly family member is doing. You can hear all about her routines and how well she’s able to maintain them. That can help you and her doctors to also keep track of what is working for her and what isn’t.

Having help both day and night ensures that your elderly family member’s needs are met and that she’s able to spend her time and energy doing the things that she wants to do. She’s also got companionship and friendly faces, which keeps her socializing as much as she wants.

If you are considering 24-hour home care in Las Vegas, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

How Well is Your Dad Doing Living Alone?

Senior Home Care in Summerlin NV
Senior Home Care in Summerlin NV

When was the last time you gathered as a family to catch up and see how your dad’s doing? It’s time to have that dinner. Many families are only available to gather once a year, and in a year’s time, a lot can change. As you gather, here are some of the things you need to be watching for in your dad’s home. Once you’ve taken stock of his current situation, you can begin to asses if it’s time to bring in senior home care to help out.

How Are His Food Inventories?

How much food does your dad have on hand? Is he shopping regularly and stocked with healthy food options? If he’s ordering takeout regularly and not doing the shopping, ask him why. Is he able to drive? Does he find shopping overwhelming?

Is He Taking Care of Himself?

Does your dad shower a minimum of every few days? If you notice body odor and he’s not very active, he may be avoiding showers. Find out why. If he fell coming out of the shower, he may be fearful of being alone when he washes himself. A shower seat and grab bars can boost his confidence.

See if your dad has seen his doctor in the past year. Is he going for two dental cleanings per year? He should be seeing his doctor and dentist that often, or possibly more often if he has a chronic health condition or gum disease.

How is His Mobility?

As you watch your dad, see how well he moves around. Does he seem unsteady when he first stands up from a sofa or chair? Does he shuffle while he walks? How is he on the stairs?

When he’s moving around or standing in one space, does he seem to hold onto items for support? If so, it could be time to invest in a cane to provide some support while he’s walking. Talk to him about it, and make sure he knows that there are some amazing canes now. He could have one with built-in LED lighting to illuminate a hallway while he walks.

How Clean is the House?

How clean is his home? Does he have mounds of laundry that he can’t get downstairs to the laundry room? Is he re-wearing clothing rather than washing it? Does he wash items in a sink rather than make the trip to his laundry room?

Does your dad vacuum stairs or are they building up pet hair and dust? Is he able to carry and push his vacuum around or is it too difficult?

Talk with Him About Senior Home Care

Take time once a month or as often as you can to have family meals. Use this time to see how your dad’s doing and judge whether it’s time to have someone helping him with household chores or personal care.

As you talk to him about his safety and needs as he ages at home, make sure he realizes he’s in control. Senior home care isn’t about taking away his independence, it’s about the helping hand he needs from time to time to remain independent. Involve him in talks with a senior home care specialist when you make the call.

If you are considering senior home care in Summerlin, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.

Healthy Food Options for Seniors with Tooth Loss

Elder Care in Henderson NV

Full or partial dentures are a common dental aid for the elderly. Your elderly loved one may be having difficulty chewing and swallowing after receiving new dentures. While your loved one’s new dentures may make them feel awkward at first, there are certain things they may do that may help.

It might be challenging to encourage a senior to eat more if they experience discomfort while doing so. If you’re too busy to shop for groceries or prepare meals for your elderly loved ones, or if you’re concerned about their safety in their own home, it may be time to look into elder care options. Even dentures can guarantee your aging loved one is eating well and receiving enough to eat.

It is possible for seniors who have lost all of their teeth to still eat healthily. It’s important to remember that many healthy soft meals can taste great. Incorporate these items into your elderly loved one’s diet if poor tooth health prevents them from eating normally.

Yogurt Is Healthy, Affordable, and Nutritious for Seniors

Yogurt is versatile, serving as either a breakfast or snack item. For example, its taste may be altered by adding pureed fruit or honey. It’s a good source of protein, which elderly people who have trouble chewing tough meat may not receive enough of in their diets. To make this lunch as healthy as possible, choose yogurt with a low-fat and a low-sugar option.

Eat a Scrambled Egg Breakfast

Eggs are a fantastic way to add protein to your family’s diet. To make the eggs more manageable for consumption, you may modify their consistency. You can serve eggs on their own, but they’ll have more nutritional value and taste if you add some softened veggies, such as bell peppers, in little bits or pureed before you scramble them.

Make a Soup for Dinner

Seniors on a soft-food diet may get dissatisfied with their diet out of boredom. Soups are fantastic since they allow you to regularly surprise your loved one with various tastes. Alternate nights of minestrone and chicken noodle soup. Keep in mind that you’ll need to cut the components for the soup even smaller than you would if you were eating it by yourself. Using a hand blender will help the soup mix into a smoother consistency, making it more straightforward for your loved one to swallow. The best thing about soup is elder care can help make it and then freeze it to eat later on.

Baked Fish with Rice

Fish is a great way to add healthy fats and protein to your family’s diet, and it is also much more tender than other varieties of meat. Soft-meat eaters are better off with salmon and cod than swordfish or mahi-mahi. Crunchy breading should also be avoided, so look for a recipe that employs citrus juice or fresh herbs instead.

Oatmeal is Great for Seniors

Breakfast cereals and granola bars may no longer be an option, but there are other ways to ensure that your loved one is getting enough whole grains in their diet. Oatmeal, like yogurt, is adaptable because of its flavoring options. Instead of sugar, you may use applesauce to sweeten the oats. You may add nut butter to your oats to make them more flavorful.

Source
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/tooth-loss/seniors

If you are considering elder care in Henderson, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616.