Ways to Boost Elderly Nutrition
Do you know if you are helping your elderly loved one meet their daily nutritional needs? Many family caregivers have a basic idea of nutrition but haven’t given it much thought with regards to their aging relative. Seniors have nutritional needs that vary from a typical adult diet, due to age-related health conditions and the functions of an elderly body.
Home Care in Reston VA: Boost Elderly Nutrition
Aging adults frequently rely on other people like family caregivers, friends or senior care providers, for help with many daily tasks.
This is true especially when they face significant physical or mental health challenges. One of the areas that seniors often need the most help is with meal planning and preparation.
Studies show that elderly adults usually don’t get the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need. Many doctors recommend senior supplements to make up any deficits. However, focusing on nutrition can lead to better health and wellness for aging adults. If you oversee your elderly relative’s meals, you have the ideal opportunity to boost their nutrition intake. Senior care providers are usually well-trained in meal planning to create nutrient-dense, senior-friendly meals, too.
Here are a few ways for you to help your loved one get the nutrients in their diet that they need.
Educate yourself on what seniors in general need. For example, due to age-related bone issues, seniors often need plenty of calcium and vitamin D. Fortified foods like milk, juice, bread, and cereal can deliver such nutrients to seniors for healthier bones.
Work with a doctor for their specific needs. Many seniors have unique dietary requirements and their doctor should be able to help family caregivers focus on optimal meal planning. This is particularly important for seniors with conditions like diabetes, Crohn’s disease, and celiac disease, for instance.
Include dietary fiber in the diet. With age, people often need more fiber in their diet to help regulate blood sugar and aid in digestion. Increasing fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains not only provide dietary fiber but delivers plenty of additional nutrients to the elderly adult.
Reduce sodium intake where possible. It’s hard to escape sodium in a diet as it is included in so many processed foods. However, family caregivers and senior care providers can try to reduce salt using sodium-free or low-salt options. Reducing sodium can help control blood pressure, among other things.
Serve nutrient dense food. Seniors usually don’t have much of an appetite, so it’s important that what they do eat delivers plenty of nutrients. Family caregivers and senior care providers should focus on ingredients that are low in calories and high in vitamins, minerals, protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fat.
Good nutrition is the key for seniors to experience optimum health and wellness. Not only will elderly adults look and feel their best, but a nutritious diet can minimize age-related health problems and promote faster healing and recovery. It doesn’t take much to boost the nutrition intake of senior relatives, but the benefits are long-lasting.
Are you or a loved-one considering Home Care in Reston, VA? Please call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today. Contact: 703-273-8818
Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.
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