Seniors often experience a change in their senses, such as decreased senses of taste and smell, and that can keep them from eating as well as they should. But that change in appetite can lead to bigger health problems if it continues too long. Home care services can help family caregivers to stay on top of what’s going on and what is working for seniors.
Encouragement
It might sound unnecessary, but sometimes when seniors are spending too much time alone, eating can feel like a chore. Having someone else there, just as a friendly face, can do a lot to help them to feel more like eating meals and snacks on a regular basis. Caregivers can do a lot to provide the positive reinforcement around eating that seniors need.
Supplements
Sometimes seniors need a little bit of extra help in order to get the nutrients that they need. That help might come from supplements that boost their nutritional intake. Nutritional shakes, vitamins, and other types of supplements are also easy to forget. Home care providers can offer reminders that help seniors to stay on track with their supplement needs.
Treating Underlying Health Issues
Often aging adults have appetite issues because they have underlying health issues that either haven’t been treated yet or are worsening. Addressing those underlying problems is essential for seniors to continue to live their best lives. It’s vital to talk to medical providers, ensuring that seniors are dealing properly with every health condition that is causing them concern.
Meal Planning and Preparation
It is not an easy task for seniors to stay on top of meal planning and preparation as they grow older. If they live alone, cooking for one feels overwhelming. It’s a lot easier to rely on easy meals, like frozen prepared meals, fast food, and other processed foods. A steady diet of these types of foods can lack the nutrients that seniors need most. Senior care providers make it so much easier for aging adults to eat healthy meals every single day.
Creating a Comforting Meal Atmosphere
Sometimes seniors need more than just another person there with them during meals. Serving meals that are visually appealing, setting the table in an attractive way, and generally making meals a comforting and happy experience all help. Home care providers can do a lot to ensure that meals are a pleasant experience overall.
Exercising Patience
It’s really important that family caregivers and other family members stay as patient as possible about this issue. A decline in appetite isn’t something that seniors choose. There’s usually a lot that plays into the difficulty they’re having with food and eating, so staying calm and patient is going to help everyone involved to find solutions that will really work.
A declining appetite is unfortunately really common for aging adults to face. With the right help, especially from home care providers and medical professionals, this is a problem that families can address. Making just a few simple changes could make all the difference for a senior who is having trouble eating.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING HOME CARE IN CUPERTINO, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY. (408) 317-4969
