Maintaining proper nutrition is a huge piece in the puzzle of keeping seniors healthy as they age. Unfortunately, there are a ton of factors that work against seniors when it comes to getting the nutrition they need. Changes related to aging, limited mobility, and difficulty with daily tasks all make it tough for seniors to eat healthfully. Home care assistance can be the answer families are looking for if their seniors need to improve their dietary health.

Meal Planning and Preparation

Part of eating right involves planning for nutritional meals. Seniors sometimes find it difficult to plan meals that are healthy, involve little preparation, and meet the dietary recommendations they’ve gotten from their doctors. Elder care providers can take over meal planning and preparation, keeping in mind each senior’s likes and preferences around food.

Nutritional Education

Home care providers can also help seniors to understand more about nutrition and why it’s so important. Seniors may have eaten a certain way throughout their entire lives and now suddenly need to make some changes. Those changes may need to happen due to health issues, cognitive changes, or simply a desire to maintain a healthier weight. Understanding nutritional needs helps seniors make better decisions about food.

Help at Meals

Some seniors have trouble with nutrition simply because eating is more difficult for one reason or another. Whether the problem involves physical limitations or other issues, seniors may need physical help eating. Sometimes what seniors need is company while they have meals. Social eating is a very real situation and seniors tend to do better when they have someone there to add companionship.

Nutritional Monitoring

Home care assistance can also offer valuable assistance in monitoring how well seniors are eating. Seniors may not need help preparing meals, but it’s important for family caregivers to understand what their aging adults eat, how often they do so, and whether they’re showing any signs of malnutrition. The first step in solving a problem with nutrition and dietary habits is understanding what is going on.

Hydration

Hydration is another potential issue for aging adults. Too often, seniors aren’t getting enough hydrating fluids into their bodies. With the help of senior care providers, it’s easier to have an idea how much hydration they’re getting and whether other steps need to be taken.

Focusing on Quality of Life

Many seniors don’t realize how closely nutrition is related to quality of life. If they want to age in place, it makes sense for them to make that easier by eating healthy meals that keep them strong and vital. Home care assistance can help seniors to understand the benefits of eating a diet that supports their health and well-being.

Seniors may need a lot more help with nutrition than they realize. Getting the right mix of nutrients in the right amounts can help them to deal with health issues and boost mood, cognitive function, and independence. Home care assistance makes everything related to meals and food easier for seniors to manage, especially when seniors know they don’t have to deal with all of that alone.

Reference
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-eating-nutrition-and-diet/healthy-meal-planning-tips-older-adults

If you are considering home care assistance in Sugar Land, TX for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.

At Your Side Home Care, provides exceptional home care assistance for seniors and families in Houston, West Houston, Katy, Memorial, The Heights, Spring Valley, Garden Oaks, Hunters Creek, River Oaks, Hilshire Village, Galleria, Cinco Ranch, Spring Branch, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenburg, Piney Point, Bay City and surrounding areas.

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Donna Wrabel, LMSW

Co-Owner at At Your Side Home Care

For most of us, the word "home" evokes warm feelings of comfort, security and well-being. For older adults, home also means holding tight to cherished memories and maintaining self-esteem and independence. When illness, injury or age make life a little more challenging, remaining at home in a comfortable, familiar environment encourages recovery and enhances the quality of life. Home can be defined as a private residence, an independent or assisted living facility or even a short term stay in the hospital, we recognize the additional benefits provided by a personal, professional assistant.

Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.

Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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