Meal Preparation
Good nutrition as a key prevention strategy can help to maintain health and prevent disease. Caregivers who are preparing meals for seniors should keep in mind the various age-related changes that affect nutritional needs, as well as the factors that put seniors at risk of being malnourished. Our Caregivers can help your loved ones get the nutrition they need at home. They are knowledgeable about safe food handling and the various considerations associated with meal preparation for seniors.
Several medical conditions (some of which are age-related) can require a special diet, including
Diabetes
Congestive Heart Disease
Gout
Decreased Bone Density
Kidney Function Decline
Altered Thirst Perception
Achlorhydria (Low stomach acid)
Alterations in vision, hearing, cognition, and physical ability are other presenting factors that can put seniors at increased risk of malnourishment. These impairments may influence the ability to handle kitchen appliances safely or to go grocery shopping. Dysphasia (or difficulty swallowing) can occur in adults who have suffered a stroke or neurological disease such as Parkinson’s and can make eating difficult. Some common medications, such as opioids for pain, can suppress appetite.
There’s also a social aspect associated with eating that is usually absent for seniors who are living on their own. Because there is often no one to eat with, some seniors neglect to eat altogether. Many family caregivers overlook this when trying to identify causes of their loved one’s poor eating habits. Eating well and healthily is an important part of health maintenance in older adults. InCasa Home Care Edmonton caregivers
