A friend of mine recently suffered a respiratory illness that kept her up nights and negatively impacted her appetite. She told me that nothing tasted like it should and she had been force-feeding herself to get food down, and the medications she was prescribed only made matters worse.
If anything sounded like it might taste good, her husband was willing to purchase and/or prepare it, but most times, it was a futile waste of time and money.
Although my friend is approaching her senior years, her dilemma struck a chord with me, because many seniors our caregivers serve have diminished appetites and they struggle to get the nutrition they need for a healthy quality of life.
A healthy senior diet can combat diseases and conditions that are highly impacted by water intake and nutrition, such as dehydration, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, and more.
Seniors can avoid these conditions and others with proper nutrition and hydration. However, as geriatric nutritional needs evolve with age, physiological, perceptual, and age-related changes can make it a much greater challenge.
Aging.com suggests there are 8 reasons why seniors may not eat properly:
- Decreased Sensitivity
- Medication Side Effects
- Poor Dental Health
- Lack of Finances
- Lack of Transportation
- Physical Difficulties
- Memory Loss
- Depression
Seniors who experience any one or more of the above are commonly deficient in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, folic acid, calcium, and niacin. Deficiencies in these vitamins and minerals negatively impact a senior’s health in a variety of ways. Balanced meals and a healthy geriatric nutrition program can improve these deficiencies if they include specific foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate plan recommends aging adults follow 8 general guidelines to improve their nutritional consumption for a healthier quality of life.
- Enjoy a variety of foods from each food group to help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
- Choose foods with little to no added sugar, saturated fats, and sodium.
- Get enough protein during the day to maintain muscle mass.
- Focus on the nutrients you need, including potassium, calcium, vitamin D, dietary fiber, and vitamin B12.
- Drink water often. Low- or fat-free milk, including lactose-free options or fortified soy beverages, and 100% juice can also help seniors stay hydrated. Limit beverages that have lots of added sugars or salt.
- Maintain a healthy weight or prevent additional weight gain by following a healthy dietary pattern and adopting an active lifestyle.
- Learn how much to eat from all five food groups and find out how many calories you need each day to help you maintain energy in the MyPlate Plan.
- Try to prevent foodborne illness (food poisoning) by keeping food safe. The four steps to safer food choices are Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.
The USDA also outlines 5 nutrition tips for seniors over the age of 60:
- Eat seafood, dairy or fortified soy alternatives, beans, peas, and lentils to help maintain muscle mass.
- Add fruit and vegetables to your meals and snacks. If slicing and chopping is a challenge, choose frozen, canned, or ready-to-eat options.
- Turn eating into a social event. Meals are more enjoyable when you eat with others. Invite friends to join you or take part in a potluck at least twice a week. Community centers and places of worship typically offer these types of meal-sharing opportunities.
- The body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12 can decrease with age. Taking certain medications can also lower absorption. Eating enough protein and fortified foods can help the body get the vitamin B12 it needs.
- If you are thinking about including dietary supplements, talk about this with your healthcare provider to learn what is right for you. This includes nutrition supplement drinks, which can have added sugars.
In addition, “According to a pyramid for older adults created by researchers from Tufts University, drinking eight glasses of water daily was next to physical activity in importance to health. As you age, your body’s ability to conserve water decreases, so you don’t feel thirsty as often. However, your body still needs water,” says Aging.com.
March is National Nutrition Month, and my Home Helpers® caregivers are keenly aware of geriatric nutritional needs, and they regularly offer hydration reminders, go grocery shopping, and take time to plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks for our senior clients.
If you or a senior loved one would benefit from help with grocery shopping and nutritional meal planning and preparation to stay comfortable and independent at home, I gladly offer a FREE Consultation to assess specific needs so I can match the perfect caregiver to provide delicious assistance.
We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have been ranked among the Home Care Pulse Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providersand to have receivedthese awards in 2024: Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, as well as being named a Caring.com2023 Caring Super Star.
We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Trinity, Port Richey, Hudson, and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier® (727) 240-3059
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