Nutrition through Senior Home Care Assistance: Ensuring a Healthy Diet
When you hire someone for home care assistance, you have several needs in mind. One that’s essential is maintaining good nutrition daily. Indeed, supplements help, but eating healthy food serves the whole body in various ways, supporting the individual’s quality of health. Overall, the individual’s quality of life matters, and that includes eating patterns.
Caregivers, like those we offer at True Care, know their clients’ abilities, overall health conditions, if they exercise, and general lifestyle. A nutritional plan begins with this information. Mind you; some people balk at certain foods, so clever people involved in senior home care have to try various approaches.
Get them Involved
Many seniors are homebound. So, when practicable, an aide will take them along for a shopping trip. This helps clients understand more about what’s healthy to eat. Shopping also provides socialization and a greater sense of control, which is essential for maintaining a positive attitude.
Two other benefits of providing nutrition through senior home care assistance (ensuring a healthy diet) are ones you might not think of immediately. First, the aide can reach items that would otherwise be unsafe for the individual. Then, there are pesky, hefty bags that are hard on the back and painful with arthritis.
TruCare believes in caring for the whole person, including what they like to eat! Did you know that approximately 35 percent of adults over the age of 65 have signs of malnutrition? In turn, vital mineral and vitamin deficiencies occur. Some results from malnutrition include
- Memory loss or confusion
- Anxiety and depression
- Weak muscles
- Slow healing
- Weight loss
Our team manages nutritional plans and adjusts them as necessary.
Get them Into the Kitchen
Even if a person can’t cook, they can offer suggestions and chat for a while. During the conversation, the senior caregiver carefully monitors salt and sugar. It’s not unusual for an elder to have some type of special diet. The caregiver can keep a person involved by remembering personal preferences and adjusting the food to the nutrition plan.
The difference a home-cooked meal makes is substantial. Making fresh foods is one of our services. People consistently give TruCre high ratings for this aspect of senior home care as well as many other of our senior care solutions.
What do Senior Home Care Healthy Diet Plans Look Like?
Most people have no idea what the USDA (Department of Health and Human Services) recommends for a solid daily diet for senior home care. The food plan Includes
- 3 c dairy (low fat/fat-free)
- 1½-2½ c. of fruits
- 5-8 tsp. Healthy fats
- 5-7 oz protein
- 2-3½ c.vegetables
- 5-10 c. whole grains
Hiring a Professional Caregiver
Creating healthy meals every day can be challenging, especially if you have a picky eater. When you hire a caregiver through TruCare, you can be assured of a care plan that meets dietary needs.
We are located in Norristown, PA (1-610-878-2273) and Philadelphia, PA (833-878-2273). FAX: 610-500-5095, and our online contact form.
