Have recent visits with your elderly loved one got you worried about his eating habits? Perhaps he has a health condition that requires a strict or restricted diet. Or maybe you’ve noticed that he has begun to lose weight without any other health issues. Maybe you’ve peeked into his fridge to only see condiments and frozen pizza. And when you bring it up to him, he just shrugs and looks at you like he doesn’t know how to solve the issue.
Five Reasons Elderly Individuals May Develop Poor Eating Habits
- Lack of knowledge. It could be that your loved one doesn’t know what food is considered healthy and what isn’t. He might get confused when grocery shopping on what items he should buy, especially if he is on a restricted diet such as one that recommends he reduce his sodium intake. He might not know how to choose foods that are lower in sodium.The lack of knowledge may also transfer over to when he gets home. Maybe your loved one is comfortable throwing a frozen pizza in the oven, but preparing one from scratch is too overwhelming. From cleaning vegetables thoroughly to cooking meat properly to storing it all safely, it might just be too much for him.
- Finances. Your loved one may struggle with his food budget. If he has a limited budget, he may not know the best ways to stretch that food budget so he can afford fresh and healthy food without going into debt. Depending on where your loved one lives, finances can also make it difficult for him to get into the right markets to purchase healthy products.
- Mental Health Issues. If your loved one is feeling depressed, he might not have the desire to make foods that are best for him. He might be using food as a comfort item and living off of his favorite unhealthy snacks or he might completely lose interest in eating and not eat enough calories each day to help him stay healthy.
- Isolation. Many elderly individuals stop cooking and creating healthy meals because they are alone. It seems like much too much work when they are the only ones who are going to enjoy it. They might only know how to make large serving portions and haven’t learned how to create smaller, individual portions or store leftovers properly.
- Oral Health Issues. Poorly fitting dentures, loose teeth, or a painful cavity can cause your loved one to avoid a lot of fresh food items that require extra chewing and thus, may cause him pain when he eats.
When Meal Assistance is Needed
If your loved one desires to stay in his home but needs meal assistance with all of his meals, a 24-hour home care team can step in and ensure that each meal meets the dietary requirements that will keep your loved one in his best health. With 24-hour home care, someone will be in the home with your loved one for every meal so you can rest assured that breakfast, lunch, and dinner will all be taken care of and that your loved one will eat well. 24-hour home care teams will also ensure your loved one will always have someone around when he eats so he’ll feel less isolated and alone during meal times.
If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-hour home care in Castle Pines, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare of Parker. 303-953-9924
