Malnourishment can contribute to major health problems for your senior. The best way to avoid those complications is to do whatever you can to get the best nutrition possible into your elderly family member. There are certainly complications that can make that goal much more difficult for you as her family caregiver, but these tips may be helpful as you work toward keeping your senior properly nourished. When you can’t be there to prepare meals or ensure that your senior is eating well, 24-hour home care can be the best solution.
Get a Clear Idea What Your Senior Is Really Eating
If you don’t live with your senior, you might not have as much information about her eating habits as you think you do. Work with your elderly family member to get an accurate picture of her eating habits and routines. Let her know that this isn’t to judge her or to take away her choices or independence, but that you do need to know what she’s getting nutritionally speaking.
Talk with Her Doctor about What She Should Eat
It’s also a good idea to talk with your senior’s doctor about what she should be eating on a regular basis. This helps to make sure that you understand the dietary needs that she has because of any existing health issues and other variables. Even if her doctor wants your senior to completely change her dietary habits, those changes can still be made slowly so that they’re not overwhelming for her.
Focus on What Will Help Your Senior to Eat Regularly
What will convince your senior to eat more often? For some seniors, texture is more important than anything else. That could mean avoiding foods that are too mushy, too crunchy, or unpleasant for her in other ways. For other seniors, loss of the senses of taste or smell makes eating more complicated. Trying out different spices or cooking techniques can make a difference. Talk with your elderly family member about what changes she’s willing to try out.
Opt for Nutrient Dense Meals and Snacks
It’s always better when you’re getting nutrient-dense foods into your senior. That means avoiding foods that are highly processed or that are full of empty calories. In general, that means more fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains, fiber-rich foods, and lean proteins. If you can work out ways to make that happen in ways that your senior enjoys, that’s a bonus.
Do What You Can to Make Meals Social for Her
Some seniors are just not able to eat alone. Social eating is common for many people, and then when they live alone it’s so difficult to even want to eat. This is an area where 24-hour home care providers can really help your senior. Because these home care providers are there with your elderly family member day and night, they’re able to keep her company and ensure that she’s eating as well as she should.
Another reason that 24-hour home care providers are helpful when you’re concerned about malnourishment is that you can get a true accounting of what she’s eating and when. This can be extremely helpful for seniors with cognitive difficulties or who are having more difficulty eating.
Source
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/what-to-know-about-malnutrition-in-older-adults
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Centennial, CO, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Denver today. 303-756-9322
