Helping Your Senior Enjoy Nutritious Meals

For many seniors, good nutrition becomes less and less of a priority as they age. This is especially true if your elderly loved one struggles to get the grocery store, or has a hard time moving around their kitchen in order to prepare a meal. When this is the case, your senior may end up relying on fatty, salty snacks and fast food in order to get by. This can wreak havoc on both their physical and mental state. To help your elderly loved one stay on track and feel better, home care professionals encourage the following additions to their diet:

• Plenty of dark leafy greens.
• Enough fruits and vegetables. Try making smoothies or soup, as these are nutritious but filling items that taste great.
• Low-fat dairy products. Even getting your senior to switch to 2% milk instead of whole milk would be a major improvement for their diet.
• Lean meat and plenty of fish.
• Greek yogurt, nuts, and other protein-rich items when it comes time to snack.
• Encouraging dark chocolate over milk or white chocolate.
• Enjoying whole wheat bread instead of white bread.

Also encourage your senior to focus on their fluid intake during the day. Many elderly individuals get dehydrated and don’t even realize it, which can lead to a whole host of health problems. Ask your elderly loved one to carry a water bottle with them during the day, and to sip it regularly. If this doesn’t work, advise them to get a drink each time they pass through the kitchen. This helps them to get into the habit of consuming more water.

Many seniors end up eating a less-than-healthy diet because they simply can’t get to the grocery store or handle meal preparation on their own. If this is the case, your loved one could benefit from elder care services. They can have a highly trained professional shop, cook, and clean up for them. This makes it effortless for them to enjoy a nutrient-filled meal that will help to nourish their body.

Even having a home care professional drop by a few days out of the week can work wonders when it comes to ensuring that your senior’s home is stocked with fresh fruit, veggies, and other ingredients necessary for healthy meals. If you suspect that your elderly loved one’s diet is lacking, talk to them about whether this option would be appealing. 

The Best Way to Celebrate This Valentine’s Day With Your Senior

If your senior is in an assisted living facility or is mostly homebound, you may worry that they’re missing out on the love and joy that comes with Valentine’s Day. However, regardless of how mobile your elderly loved one is, you can help to bring them a special holiday at a relatively low price point this year. The following activities will get them into the Valentine’s Day spirit:

Encourage young family members to create homemade valentines

Your senior will delight over getting a few handmade valentines to celebrate the special day. Whether they’re store-bought or colored with markers at home, a reminder that they are loved will be important to your elderly loved one during this time.

Have them make valentines for others

Part of the fun in Valentine’s Day comes in spreading the love to others. Help your senior make some valentines for the people closest to them. Bring over plenty of construction paper, stickers, glitter, and other materials, and get to work creating notes of affection for family members, friends, and even in-home care professionals. They don’t have to be perfect, just full of love and appreciation.

Bake Valentine’s Day cookies

A sweet treat is the perfect way to commemorate the holiday. Professionals who care for the elderly explain that this project is easy to do regardless of where your elderly loved one is living. Bake sugar cookies and decorate them with pink and red icing. You can even buy plain cookies from the store and just get to work on personalizing them. 

Decorate

According to elder care services professionals, decorating your senior’s living space for the occasion can also get them into the spirit. Hang some streamers, paper hearts, and other festive items, or consider purchasing pink and red candles. These small touches will make a major difference. 

Remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love for a partner. Even if your loved one’s significant other has since passed away, they can enjoy celebrating love for friends and family members. Help them to enjoy this day and remind them how loved they truly are.