Seniors Can Avoid Diseases with Proper Nutrition
Author: Home Helpers Home Care
As a Certified Senior Care Advisor, one of the most serious concerns my caregivers and I have is related to diminished senior appetites and the subsequent lack of nutrition. Oftentimes, seniors suffer from a variety of health problems and physical issues simply because they don’t eat properly.
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 diseases and others with proper nutrition. However, as 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 senior diet can improve these deficiencies if they include specific foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients.
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County explains, “During National Nutrition Month everyone is encouraged to make informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits they can follow all year long. Making healthy eating habits does not require drastic lifestyle changes.“
The best food choices that are recommended for healthy senior diets include foods rich in:
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, flaxseed, soybeans, canola oil, walnuts
- Calcium: milk, yogurt, cheese, leafy green vegetables, cereals fortified with calcium
- Fiber: nuts, wholegrain cereal, wholegrain bread and pasta, brown rice, brown bread, fruits, and vegetables
- Iron: beef, pork, poultry, seafood, nuts, spinach, dried fruit, peas, iron-fortified cereals, breads, pasta
- Vitamin C: fruits, vegetables
- Vitamin B12: milk, dairy, meat, poultry
- Potassium: bananas, prunes, potatoes, fruits, vegetables
- Vitamin D: eggs, salmon, tuna, Vitamin D-fortified milk, cereal, yogurt, juices
- Magnesium: whole grains, nuts, fresh fruit, and vegetables
- Water (8 glasses/day or half your body weight in ounces/day)
“According to the National Library of Medicine, a high sugar, high fat, processed food diet has contributed significantly to obesity and chronic disease in America. Not only do Americans consume fewer than the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables, but they also consume a lot of red meat and poultry each year, which creates a much higher daily caloric intake and protein requirements of a healthy diet,” says Florida Health Pinellas.
They continued, “Developing a healthy eating pattern is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. The key is tailoring your favorite foods to meet your individual nutrient needs. For those wondering how to get started, speaking with a registered dietitian can be an important first step. These health professionals can help fine-tune traditional recipes, provide alternatives to cooking methods, and offer other helpful advice for incorporating family-favorite foods into everyday meals.”
Home Helpers provides a Caregiver Meal Prep service that includes grocery shopping for healthy foods, and healthy meal planning and preparation so the seniors in our care get nutritious meals and snacks that are based on their individual dietary needs and tastes.
If you or a senior loved one would benefit from in-home care that includes the caregiver meal prep service focused on nutrition and well-being, I offer a FREE Consultation to complete a comprehensive assessment so I can match the perfect caregiver to help make life easier at mealtime.
We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have been ranked among the Activated Insights Top 100 Leaders in Experience for home care providers in 2025 and to have received the Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice, the Best of Home Care® Employer of Choice, and the Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience Awards in 2025, along with the Caring Super Star 2025 Award.
Home Helpers Clearwater proudly serves male and female seniors, veterans, and differently abled individuals in Bayonet Point, Clearwater, Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Gulfport, Holiday, Hudson, Largo, Madeira Beach, New Port Richey, North Redington Beach, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Pass A Grille, Pass A Grille Beach, Port Richey, Redington Shores, Safety Harbor, Saint Petersburg, Seminole, South Pasadena, Tarpon Springs, Tierra Verde, Treasure Island, Trinity, and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier® 727.942.2539
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