Elder Care in the Kitchen and Building a Healthy Diet
Advancing to the later years creates more of a necessity for proper dieting and home health care than ever before. As heath concerns continue to mount and become potentially more serious, a proper diet will be essential for maintaining healthy body functions. Carefully monitoring the nutritional balance of a senior requires dieting and avoiding certain substances to contribute to strong body functions and maintaining several aspects of health for elder care.
For seniors or home health care services that are set in their way, this can be a difficult switch to make. Home health care tends to fall into a routine so as to maintain safety and promote normalcy, but shaking up that routine with a healthier diet and smarter elder care practices could prevent osteoporosis, heightened blood pressure, and even Alzheimer's disease. The following are a few tips for healthy senior dieting practices that will maintain functions and increase quality of life.
Remove
First step of building a dietary program for elder care is removing those things that seniors absolutely DO NOT need in their diet. These include saturated fats, sodium, and cholesterol. These substances should be avoided in any and all forms. That means cutting out baked desserts (like donuts, cookies, etc.) and other fattening foods. A good strategy for cutting out salt is to take the salt shaker off of the table entirely. After a while, the salt won't be missed; and the health results will speak for themselves.
First step of building a dietary program for elder care is removing those things that seniors absolutely DO NOT need in their diet. These include saturated fats, sodium, and cholesterol. These substances should be avoided in any and all forms. That means cutting out baked desserts (like donuts, cookies, etc.) and other fattening foods. A good strategy for cutting out salt is to take the salt shaker off of the table entirely. After a while, the salt won't be missed; and the health results will speak for themselves.
Also, it is imperative to cut down on empty calories. That is, food and drink that has a caloric intake but does not present any nutritional benefit. Any diet can benefit from this, but especially it is necessary for seniors who have less energy and fewer opportunities to exercise and burn off the empty calories which become fat. Some common empty calorie items include soda, snack foods like potato chips, and especially, alcohol.
Replace
After the worst parts of the diets are removed, substituting the other less than healthy foods is the next step to fuller dietary elder care. When going food shopping for a senior diet, whether as the senior or the health care aide, it is good to know some of the common alternatives to improve nutrition. Such alternatives can be easily worked into a diet without sacrificing cost or taste.
After the worst parts of the diets are removed, substituting the other less than healthy foods is the next step to fuller dietary elder care. When going food shopping for a senior diet, whether as the senior or the health care aide, it is good to know some of the common alternatives to improve nutrition. Such alternatives can be easily worked into a diet without sacrificing cost or taste.
One of the most common changes is fruit for dessert. Not only is fruit less expensive than cakes, ice cream, and cookies, fruit is absolutely packed with essential vitamins including Vitamin D, which has been known to strengthen bones and have a positive effect on mood. Fish is also a great substitute for red meats and steaks. Red meat is heavy in cholesterol and trans fats that can clog veins and arteries; however, fish contains natural Omega-3 fatty acids which actually IMPROVE circulation and immune system functions.
Exercise
Finally, while the gym and a treadmill may no longer be an option, some form of exercise will be great for ensuring sustained function and working off those pesky extra calories. Even a nice, low impact walk taken a few days a week will yield results. Not only will an elder feel healthier, they will be more independent.
Finally, while the gym and a treadmill may no longer be an option, some form of exercise will be great for ensuring sustained function and working off those pesky extra calories. Even a nice, low impact walk taken a few days a week will yield results. Not only will an elder feel healthier, they will be more independent.
As a home health care provider or an elder yourself, proactive dietary practices will be needed to prevent debilitating conditions and maintaining fuller body function during advanced age. Follow our steps outlined above for immediate results and fuller well being.
For more information on how you or your elderly loved one can maintain proper nutrition, contact a home health care provider in your area today. Angelic Healthcare
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