Dietary Care for Seniors

A healthy diet is beneficial for every person no matter how old or young, but good nutrition is especially critical among seniors. More than that, however, is the consideration that each senior may be afflicted with different groups or combinations of diseases, which could affect the types of food that they can or cannot eat. Since feeding is such a big part of home health care in Omaha, residents taking care of elderly relatives will want to know the best way to make sure that their loved-ones are fed right.

Make Good Culinary Choices

As people grow old, their stomachs and metabolism get weaker. They may feel discomfort while eating because of dentures or oral implants, and gradually lose their sense of taste and smell. Slowly, all the things that made eating such a worthy activity are disappearing or becoming uncomfortable. Therefore, it is important to emphasize cooking foods that not only taste good, but are packed with nutrients that meet the seniors' daily needs. Nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, bright-colored vegetables, deep-colored fruits, and low or non-fat dairy products are highly recommended.

Avoid Bad Food Calls

Just as it is important to make good choices on food served to seniors, bad decisions will also have to be avoided. Stay away from sugar, especially simple sugars, since overconsumption of this can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly, which could lead to type II diabetes. It is important to avoid high-fat meat and dairy as well. The saturated fat in these foods can block arteries, and result in heart ailments. Consult with your doctor as well, as there may be other dietary options that will have to be avoided because of some senior-onset diseases or contraindications in medication. When talking with the doctor, it is ideal to discuss the specific consequences or side effects one can expect if the dietary guidelines are not followed.

While it is important to control the diet of senior citizens, you should also consider the fact that they are still adults, and are more likely to want to assert their independence. So while it may be difficult to give the proper standards of senior care, Omaha residents should firmly yet gently guide their senior loved ones to the right path. If it gets too overwhelming to take care of seniors, assisted living professionals like those from Comfort Keepers are always ready to help.