Eating right is important at any stage of life. You can’t expect to have a healthy body if you don’t fuel it properly!
Good nutrition is especially important for seniors, because their bodies need more help to stay healthy and invigorated. Here are a few ways you can ensure that your aging loved one is getting all the nutrients they need, so that they can live a longer, happier, healthier life.
- Eat Lean Proteins – Protein helps to create stronger muscles and tissues, and can also help to strengthen your immune system. Lean meats like pork, beef, or chicken (all with as little fat as possible) and seafood such as fish and shrimp should be included daily in your aging parent’s diet. Eggs and beans also include high amounts of lean proteins, so you can switch things up by using them as well!
- Eat More Fruits and Vegetables – Obviously fruits and vegetables are a healthy choice, and should make up a large portion of every senior’s diet. When it comes to fruits, the more colorful the better: look for oranges, grapes, and plums, and red apples, all of which should be as deeply colored as possible to maximize the nutrients in the skin. When it comes to vegetables, go green or go home: choose things like kale, peas, and broccoli to help round out your plate, as well as carrots for even more vitamins and minerals.
- Change Your Grains – Whole grains are much healthier than their white bread counterparts, and they can help to make the eater feel fuller and more satisfied for longer. They can also help to ease ailments like constipation and bloating, which is a big selling point in and of itself. Try to swap in things like whole wheat bread, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta in place of the regular bread, rice, and pasta you usually use.
- Stay Hydrated – An important part of nutrition is hydration. A body can’t be expected to work well if it is dried out! Make sure that your parent drinks the recommended amount of fluids every day. This doesn’t have to just be water, it can be fruit juice, tea, or other healthy alternatives as well.
- Consider Home Care – If keeping track of your aging parent’s nutrition along with all of the other aspects of his or her daily caregiving gets to be too much, consider hiring a home care aide. Each agency has different lists for what their nurses or aides can do in your home, but many of them can plan and cook healthy meals for the senior, as well as make sure to remind them to take any vitamins and medicines they may need.
Few things are more important than good nutrition, so if you are worried that your parent isn’t eating well enough, try implementing some of these tips. You will soon see a difference in their health and mood, and you will be amazed by how much better they will feel after just a week or two of healthier eating. You might even want to try it for yourself!
Source:
If you or an aging loved-on are considering home care in Des Plaines, IL, please call the caring staff at A-Abiding Care today. Serving North and Northwest Chicago and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Call 847-698-1400.
Our professional caregivers offer a wide variety of home care services to meet your loved one’s unique and individual needs, including:
In-Home Care
Hospital-to-Home Transitional Care
Specialized Senior Home Care
Assistance Services
A-Abiding Care, Inc. was founded in 1983 by Joyce Kernan – a registered nurse and pioneer in the field of home care – on the principles of showing clients kindness and respect while providing loving, compassionate care for seniors at home. Today, Joyce’s family, along with our loyal staff, continue her legacy and mission; to provide quality home care for seniors in the Chicago area and provide meaningful employment for many caregivers, nurses and administrative staff.
I feel honored to care for our community members and to be a part of their lives in a meaningful, lasting way.
- What to Do During an A-Fib Episode - December 18, 2018
- 5 Ways for Caregivers to Beat Holiday Stress - December 4, 2018
- Consider Elderly Care Providers for Senior Night Care - November 20, 2018
