Nutrition and Your Senior: How to Ensure They Eat Well

Posted in Homecare in Ozark AL, Senior Care in Ozark AL |

November 5, 2020

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Eating a healthy diet is important at any age, but it’s especially important for aging seniors.
In addition to keeping a person’s physical body healthy, eating well also can be one of the best ways to help your aging parent to stay emotionally healthy and keep a positive state-of-mind. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be about making sacrifices and compromises with what your parent loves to eat, it’s more about helping your parent enjoy fresh delicious food, made with wholesome ingredients and doing it with friends and family, making a meal a whole body, mind, and soul experience.

 

Senior Care in Ozark AL: Ensure They Eat Well

Senior Care in Ozark AL: Ensure They Eat Well

Good nutrition sharpens the mind, boosts positive emotions, and can help your senior live longer and better. So, how do you ensure your parent is eating well?

 

1. Go shopping with your parent.

Travel to the grocery store together, helping your parent pick out food that she not only likes but is also good for her health. It’s important to encourage products like fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meats, dairy products, and items high in fiber. So, if your parent loves carrots, encourage her to buy fresh carrots instead of canned carrots. If your parent has never thought about these types of foods, then you going with them to the store can help guide them in the right direction of the best foods they can get.

 

2. Help your parent learn new ways to prepare food.

Maybe it’s time to take that cooking class together? By spending time together, a new task can seem fun and exciting, not daunting, and overwhelming. Even if it’s simply looking at a new way to make different types of salads, helping your parent open previously-closed doors to new food experiences, may give her the needed incentive to try new things.

 

3. Plan family dinners.

The enjoyment of having company can help almost anyone eat better. When planning a family dinner with your senior parent, make sure to have menu items that she’ll not only enjoy but that will be good for her. Associating the pleasure of community with a particular food can make that item seem even more enjoyable. And don’t forget to send leftovers home with your parent so she can easily reheat and enjoy the meal for another time.

 

4. Enlist help.

Whether it’s signing up for a home meal delivery plan, asking the neighbors to bring meals, or hiring a home care professional to come into your parent’s home and prepare a meal or two, it’s important that you don’t try to do it all on your own. There are plenty of services out there willing to step in and help; and most likely, you have friends or family that would also love to help out by providing a weekly meal.

As your senior parent ages, many things may cause stumbling blocks to good nutrition, from budget concerns to reduced appetite and even problems chewing and swallowing. Maintaining an open and non-shaming conversation with your parent about her eating habits will help you both to make needed adjustments that will enrich her life and increase her overall health.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Ozark, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.

Tips for Keeping Your Senior Safe While Gardening

Posted in Elder Care in Ozark AL, Elderly Care in Ozark AL, Homecare in Ozark AL |

April 15, 2019

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Gardening is a wonderful activity for older adults. It gets them out in the fresh air and sun, promotes physical exercise, stimulates their mind, and gives them something to feel proud of. As with anything else, however, it is important for you to recognize potential risks associated with gardening and take steps in your caregiver efforts to minimize these risks and keep your parent safer.

 

Homecare in Ozark AL: Senior Safe While Gardening

Homecare in Ozark AL: Senior Safe While Gardening

 

Use these tips to keep your senior safe while gardening:

  • Make sure your parent is properly protected from the sun. This includes sunscreen, a hat with a wide brim, and clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
  • Make sure your parent is properly protected from the dangers of bug bites with a high-quality bug spray applied to the skin and clothing prior to going outside.
  • Check the area around the garden to detect any signs of potentially dangerous pets such as rodents or snakes. Make sure these are managed properly before your parent spends time gardening.
  • Discourage your senior from gardening during the time of day when the sun is at its most intense, which is usually between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. This can quickly become a dangerous situation for seniors, who are more vulnerable to heat and sun exposure than younger people.
  • If your parent struggles with mobility or cognitive issues, discourage them from gardening by themselves. Having someone with them will help to reduce risks and handle situations that may arise effectively.
  • If your parent is going to do their gardening independently, make a habit of them letting you know when they are going out and when they come back in. This way you can monitor the time and check in if you are concerned about them.

 

Caregiver guilt is a very real thing, but you should never feel guilty of reaching out for help.

Caring for an elderly adult is rarely something one person can manage, and if you are taking care of your senior parent while also fulfilling other responsibilities such as raising your children, managing your career, and also taking care of yourself, it can be overwhelming.

Getting help from a home care provider can be one of the best decisions you can make for your senior and yourself. The care provided by this professional meets your senior’s needs in ways that are meaningful, respectful, and personalized, and also gives you the time, flexibility, and freedom you need. This means a better life and a stronger relationship for both of you, which is something you should never feel guilty about.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Homecare in Ozark, AL, please contact the caring staff at Wiregrass HomeCare today. Call us at 334-539-5900.