When people are younger, it seems to be a lot easier to get the nutrition that they need. As seniors grow older, there are a lot of factors that contribute to poor nutrition, including not having the physical ability to keep up with cooking and shopping for food. 24-hour home care services can offer a lot of assistance that seniors need in order to eat the right foods for them.

Variety Is Good

A healthy diet for seniors involves a variety of different fruits and vegetables, combined with lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. When seniors eat a variety of different types of foods, they’re getting a mix of nutrients that support their well-being. It’s also difficult to get much variety and fresh foods with a diet that relies heavily on pre-packaged foods.

Diet and Nutrition Affect Overall Health

When seniors are able to eat a diet that is full of nutrients, that food supports overall health. Muscles, bones, organs, and systems within the body all require nutrients in order to remain functional. Seniors who are eating a healthier diet are more likely to be able to reduce their risk of illnesses like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and more.

Dietary Choices Also Affect Brain Health

There’s more to nutrition than just physical health, though. Dietary choices also make a huge difference in brain health. Eating plenty of healthy fats along with other vital nutrients helps to support brain health. Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines along with nuts like walnuts are just a few of the ways to support brain health through diet.

Determining Caloric Needs

Staying within recommended caloric needs can help seniors to match up their food intake with their activity levels. Eating enough each day is vital because if seniors are eating too little, that makes it difficult for their bodies to get the nutrients they need. Talk with medical providers about how much seniors need to eat for optimal health before making decisions like reducing calories.

Getting the Right Mix of Nutrients

So, if variety is good, how can family caregivers be sure that they’re helping their seniors to get the right mix of nutrients? Talking with medical providers is a good plan, especially if seniors aren’t eating a lot of different types of foods because of health issues like dental trouble or difficulty chewing and swallowing. Supplements may be an answer, too.

Help When Meal Preparation Gets Difficult

What’s really important is that seniors have help with meals and meal preparation when these tasks become too difficult to handle on their own. Elder care providers can take a lot of that weight off of seniors and the family caregivers who love them. 24-hour home care providers can help with not only meal preparation, but also tasks like grocery shopping, meal planning, and keeping track of pantry and freezer contents.

Having the right help, especially from 24-hour home care providers, allows seniors to get what they need when they need it most. Nutrition is the cornerstone of better health for aging adults, so it’s important to do everything possible to get it right.

Reference
https://www.myplate.gov/life-stages/older-adults

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Burnsville, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.