Everyone needs a balanced diet to be healthy as they age in place. This is true for younger adults, especially older adults who want to stay as independent as possible. Your diet plays a huge role in how well chronic health conditions are maintained. If your elderly mom or dad struggles with heart conditions, diabetes, hypertension or even high stress levels, they need to focus on their diet as much as possible.
Your loved one will need to know their health requirements, and home care providers and others helping care for them should be made aware of all diet needs and restrictions.
Here are some health tips for your seniors to consider when focusing on diet.
Think About Overall Nutrients
One of the best things a senior can do is go to the doctor for regular checkups and get blood work done. In these tests, a senior will be notified of whether or not they have any deficiencies. This means a senior will know if they are low on vitamins and minerals and a doctor will help them determine where best to get those nutrients. They may recommend a specific diet or vegetables or prescribe something to take daily.
Home care providers can help take a doctor’s recommendations and prepare meals that focus on what a senior needs versus what they want. This does not mean food has to be bland; tons of healthy meals can be extremely delicious while still focusing on nutrients.
Look At Health Conditions
All seniors will not be battling the same health conditions. Some seniors may be battling chronic inflammation, and others may be battling cancer or diabetes. Each diet needs to be customized for what a senior is actually struggling with. Bodies are different, and the nutrients a senior needs will vary based on who they are in their lifestyle, and health problems.
It is crucial to focus on a well-rounded diet, but that looks different for every senior. Home care professionals can help encourage a senior to eat what their doctor or nutritionist recommends.
Find The Right Portion
Some seniors find large meals intimidating and may actually eat less. If home care is constantly sticking to three large meals a day, it may do your elderly loved one a disservice, and they may not be eating enough.
One thing family caregivers and home care providers can do is find smaller meals or snacks that are filled with the nutrients and calories a senior needs to thrive while they age in place. Often, smaller meals seem more manageable and a senior will eat a larger variety that way. This ensures they will get the calories and nutrients they need to be as healthy as possible.
Have The Senior Help
A senior may not be able to cook on their own, but chances are they can still help. When they help prepare a meal, they stay active and engaged, which can also help them feel hungrier. This is also a chance for the family to cook together, sit down, and eat together. It makes meal times more social, which can help distract a senior and get them to eat more than they normally would.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Bryn Mawr, PA, please contact the caring staff at Better Care Home Health Services today at (267) 766-5218
Better Care Home Health Services is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Philadelphia, Germantown, Glenside, Elkins Park, Bryn Mawr, Roxborough, Wyncote, Broomall, Upper Darby, Yeadon, Lansdowne, Narberth, Wynnewood, Penn Wynne, Fairmount, Ardmore, Chestnut Hill, and the surrounding areas.
Better Care Home Health Services is a family-owned agency dedicated to providing excellent and comprehensive home health care to individuals and families of Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks counties. We are honored that God has blessed us with the opportunity to positively impact and change people’s lives. It is our mission to ensure that we provide the very best of care to our clients.
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