As seniors continue to grow older and experience changes in their health, they may find it more difficult to eat well or enough to keep their bodies going. Family caregivers might feel as if they aren’t sure how to make sure that seniors are getting both the nutrients and the calories that they need. Seniors tend to lose their appetites and have more trouble with the basics, like shopping for groceries and preparing meals. 24-hour home care services can help families to make sure that seniors are eating foods that help them to stay healthy and happy as they age in place.
Add Higher Calorie Beverages
For some seniors, getting enough nutrients is a little more difficult if eating itself is difficult. Challenges with chewing or swallowing can be particularly troubling. Adding a glass of milk to meals or including high-protein smoothies can be great ways to help seniors get nutrition easily. Home care providers can help seniors to plan ahead and have ingredients on hand to add to smoothies so they have options.
Add Nutritious Bonuses to Meals Seniors Enjoy
When appetite is a problem, seniors might rely on old favorite meals that possibly aren’t as nutritious as they could be. Adding extras to those dishes can help boost nutrition more than families realize. Adding a handful of nuts or seeds to a simple side salad boosts fiber intake, for example. Adding berries to yogurt adds not only additional fiber, but also valuable antioxidants.
Increase Fat Content in Healthy Ways
Higher fat intake can be a scary idea to contemplate, and seniors might avoid fats out of habit. But there are healthy fats, and seniors need them in order to keep their brains and bodies working well. Adding healthy fats can happen by making choices like eating dark meat poultry or eating avocados, nuts, and cheeses regularly.
Include Full-fat Dairy, if Tolerable
For seniors who can tolerate dairy, choosing full-fat options can offer healthy fats and calories that seniors need. These full-fat dairy options can also help with satiety, or ensuring that seniors feel full and satisfied when they eat. This can help seniors to avoid overeating foods that are not as high in nutritional value.
Consider Supplements
In some cases, seniors just can’t get enough of the nutrients they need through food and beverages alone. Supplements, like vitamins or protein powders, might serve a purpose in helping seniors stay nourished. Guidance from medical providers can help seniors and family caregivers to make the right choices when they’re thinking about adding supplements to the mix.
Seniors should always talk to their doctors about the healthiest diet for them, based on their health needs and other variables. 24-hour home care providers can be there around the clock to make sure that seniors have support with meals and snacks all day and overnight. They can help with planning meals that are full of nutrition, shopping for ingredients, and even making the meals and snacks so seniors can enjoy delicious food with no effort.
If you or an aging loved one needs 24-hour home care in Littleton, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare of Parker. 303-953-9924
