When it comes to preparing and cooking meals for aging adults, caregivers should pay special attention to the unique nutritional needs of seniors. Ensuring your elderly relative gets proper nutrition is vital to enhancing and maintaining his or her quality of life and optimal health. To ensure you meet your loved one’s nutritional needs, make sure he or she gets these nutrients aging adults commonly lack.
Calcium
Older adults need increased amounts of calcium as their bones become weaker. Seniors who don’t get the daily recommended amount of calcium may develop osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones weaken and cause joint pain and possible injury.
While getting adequate calcium from a diet rich in healthy dairy products is recommended, men and women over 50 may also want to consider taking calcium supplements. As always, discuss medications and supplements with a doctor beforehand, as dangers have been associated with consuming too much calcium.
A professional caregiver can be a fantastic source of information on nutrition and how your loved one can live a healthier lifestyle. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of in-home care. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Vitamin B12
This essential nutrient is an absolute necessity when it comes to building up red blood cells in the body and supporting the immune and nervous systems. Vitamin B12 is abundant in certain meats, eggs, fish, and milk. Many older adults have difficulty getting enough B12 from food and may need to supplement their diets with 2.4 mcg pills daily.
Folic Acid
It’s also possible your loved one simply doesn’t get enough folate, or folic acid, in his or her diet. Folate is a B vitamin that’s commonly found in leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables like broccoli and asparagus. This essential acid fights anemia, lowers the risk of hypertension, and may also reduce the risk of getting cancer. The recommended amount of folate supplementation is 400 mcg a day.
If your loved one has difficulty shopping for food or preparing nutritious meals, consider adding a professional caregiver to your family’s caregiving team. In Tucson, at-home care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Protein
Many people lose muscle mass as they age, and this can be especially problematic for older adults. Muscle tone helps the body stabilize, preventing falls and injuries. A daily exercise routine consisting of resistance exercises and light cardio workouts, paired with a nutritious high-protein diet, is the best course of action.
Beans, red meat, and eggs are excellent sources of protein that will benefit your loved one. If aging adults have difficulty eating regular meals, supplementing with high-quality whey protein shakes is another option.
If your loved one has difficulty managing his or her nutritional needs, a professional home care provider can help. If you’re the primary caregiver for a senior family member and you need respite care, Tucson, Arizona, Home Care Assistance is here to help. Our respite caregivers are trained to assist older adults with a wide variety of everyday tasks, including meal prep, physical activity, and personal hygiene. We also provide 24-hour care and specialized care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Home Care Assistance team at (520) 276-6555 today.