If you have a loved one over the age of 60, the risk of her developing osteoporosis is fairly high. Statistics show that women have a 50 percent chance of having osteoporosis. These increased risks make the need for in-home care for seniors even more prudent.
Osteoporosis Can Lead to Dangerous Bone Breaks
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones lose mass and become frail or brittle. They can easily break and may not be able to protect the body as well as they should.
Everyone loses bone mass as they age, but those with osteoporosis have lost enough bone mass to put them at greater risk for breaks and fractures. When you combine that with the increased risk of falling, it’s a dangerous combination for your loved one, making in-home care services a valuable tool to keep them safe.
The most common bones that break in falls are the hips, spine, and wrists.
The Right Diet Can Help Reduce the Risk of Osteoporosis
Bones need two key ingredients to remain strong and be able to support your body – Vitamin D and Calcium. Vitamin D is needed for your body to absorb the calcium that keeps bones healthy.
Many elderly individuals don’t know the best places to get essential nutrients to support healthy bones, so here is a list of what you and your in-home care team can encourage your loved one to eat to reduce her possible bone loss.
- Dark Green Leafy Vegetables: For this category, think about kale, bok choy, and collard greens. Dark green vegetables are packed full of calcium and can be a great way for your loved one to get the calcium she needs. On a side note, avoid spinach. While full of calcium, it also has oxalate, which reduces calcium absorption.
- Figs: Figs are tiny but powerful. Dried or fresh, five little figs can provide 90 milligrams of calcium.
- Canned Fish: You rarely hear to eat canned food before fresh food, but canned salmon, which has its bones in the can, provides an incredible amount of both vitamin D and calcium. Those soft bones aren’t usually noticed when eating but help increase your loved one’s needed nutrients.
- Almonds: Enjoy them as a snack, use almond butter instead of peanut butter, or include them in salads because almonds have a ton of calcium. These delicious little nuts also have potassium and protein, which aid in better bone health as well.
- Tofu: It’s not just for vegetarians and vegans. Using tofu to replace your protein in sauces, plates of pasta, and soups is a great way to increase calcium intake. A half-cup has more than the regular daily recommended amount of calcium.
- Fortified Foods: From cereal to milk alternatives to bread, many foods are now fortified with important nutrients for better bone health. Reading the food label is important when shopping for these items.
In-Home Care Can Step in to Help with Better Food Choices
If your loved one struggles to make good food choices or is unable to prepare the food items that will help keep her bones in good health, having an in-home care provider come to the home to help with meals can help.
An in-home care provider will eagerly review your loved one’s food requirements and help her prepare meals that fulfill those requirements. They can also help with shopping when that becomes too overwhelming.
If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care in Elkins Park, 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.
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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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