The Importance of Meeting Nutritional Needs as You Age: How Senior Home Care Can Help

As you age, your nutritional needs change. Age related changes can affect how a body processes food, which in turn influences your dietary requirements and appetite. The following are some of these important changes:

Digestive System: As you age, your body produces less of the fluids necessary for proper digestion, making food absorption more difficult. This is why B6 and B12 supplements, as well as folic acid are critical for seniors.

Appetite: As you age, you may be prescribed different medications. These medications may affect your appetite.

Metabolism: Age slows down your metabolism. Seniors also tend to slow down exercise a routine, which slows down metabolism further. The fewer calories burned, the less calorie intake is required. Seniors are encouraged to consume food that is as nutrient-rich as possible and maintain a good level of exercise.

Emotional Health: Last but not least, elderly loved ones face many different situations, including physical issues, loss of friends, spouse, job, and these changes may result in depression, which in turn reduces appetite.

Many diseases prevalent in the elderly population can be prevented by senior care and proper nutrition. Nutritional intervention can also prevent hospitalization—malnutrition is one of the major reasons seniors suffer health problems.

Senior care and senior home care experts can help prepare small, healthy meals for your loved one at home. If you're loved one is unable to shop for and prepare healthy food for him or her regularly, senior care providers can provide the necessary assistance, as well as help with other activities of daily living. Although in some cases, individuals require specific solutions to dietary needs, there are certain general guidelines that should be considered by all.

Senior Care Nutritional Guidelines:

• Have your loved one drink plenty of water.
• Stick to healthy fats.
• Include whole grains in your diet.
• Include foods high in fiber.
• Include high amounts of calcium.
• Ensure your loved one has a proper intake of B12.

Although getting older is inevitable, it's possible to slow down the aging process and improve the quality of life of senior folks. Senior care and senior home care providers can help this process by promoting healthy eating. Remember to schedule regular physical exams and consultations for your loved one as well.

National Institute of Aging's Daily Suggestions for seniors:

• Fruit: 1.5-2.5 cups
• Meat and Beans: 5-7 ounces
• Grain: 5-10 ounces
• Vegetables: 2-3.5 cups
• Oil: 6 teaspoons

DASH Diet Daily Requirements: (Heart Healthy Plan for seniors with High Blood Pressure)

• Grains: 7-8 oz
• Meat and Beans: 6 ounces or less of meat, fish, or chicken – 4-5 servings of seeds, nuts, and/or dried beans per week.
• Vegetables: 2-2.5 cups
• Fruit: 2-2.5 cups
• Oil: 2 teaspoons

Senior care and senior home are providers can help your loved one by preparing nutritional meals on a regular basis, taking specialty concerns into account, including medical problems and diabetes. Senior care allows aging loved ones to remain safely in their homes as long as possible—caregivers visit as needed and take care of everyday services, including cleaning, running errands, cleaning and stocking the fridge, and meal preparation. These small steps can ease the burden on your loved one and make a big difference in their quality of life.

 

About the Author

Erica R. is a freelance writer for Visiting Angels, the nation's leading, network of non-medical, private duty home care agencies providing senior care, senior home care, personal care, respite care and companion care to help the elderly and adults continue to live in their homes across America. Visit the Visiting Angels website to find out more information on elder care.

The Nursing Care At Home Option

Nursing care at home has grown steadily in popularity and demand, which is basically fuelled by an aging baby boomer population, but it is not limited to those that are aging, and can be considered by various folks and kids with disabilities, that require specialist treatment and care.

Naturally there are a number of options that are available when considering nursing care at home, and dependent upon the current healthcare coverage, or financial resources that the individual may have will in turn determine the level of care that one may obtain. This is also true if one chooses to opt for a specific nursing home as an alternative. However with increased reports of nursing home abuse and reported statistics the nursing care at home option increases in popularity across a number of countries. These reports range from specific and intentional abuse to that of negligence due to improperly trained and qualified personnel within the nursing home environment.

One of the main benefits of nursing care at home is that the individual's independence and sense of self worth remains intact, and often times they will have a greater degree of control over their lives within the comfort of their home and the setting within which they are arguably the most comfortable.

Of course there are a number of other options that exist today which include the likes of assisted living facilities, retirement communities and related areas. Arguably these areas are very well-equipped in terms of nursing care and health facilities where required, whilst additionally providing access to one's peers which encourages the social and human interaction that is very much needed. The popularity of these types of environments and establishments has also grown quite considerably in recent times, due to the fact that an ever-increasing retired population, and ageing age-group has necessitated these developments. One will additionally come to realise that some of these establishments are in fact understaffed and seem to be driven purely by profit, as is evidenced by their horrendous stories we hear on the news of nursing home abuse and related occurrences. This is not to say that all such establishments do conduct business in such a manner, but you to the ever-increasing demand and a lack of qualified staff this will be bound to happen at some point in time.

This is perhaps one of the main reasons why the nursing care at home has also become so popular with the ageing population, albeit somewhat more specialised and at times even slightly more costly. What we have to take into account is the actual services performed by and in home caregiver, as compared to that of a worker within an establishment. These two functions cannot be directly compared due to the different nature of each function.

About the Author

Caledonia Healthcare is a specialist provider of staff and professionals for nursing care at home, providing value-added solutions for those that wish to remain in their own home in their golden years.