When living independently, it isn’t uncommon for elderly people to struggle to prepare, cook and eat healthy and nutritious meals. Whether this is because they can’t get to the supermarket by themselves or they’re no longer confident in the kitchen, not eating enough food or the right types of foods can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health. It’s important to have good nutrition at any age, but it’s even more important for older people, and as you may expect, nutritional needs change with age too.
If you’re worried about an elderly relative who is still living in their own home because they’re losing weight, feeling lethargic or frequently getting ill, improving their nutrition can make a big difference. Thankfully, this is something that a care assistant can help with and arranging home help for the elderly is highly recommended. Below we have looked into some of the different ways home care services can help to prevent malnutrition as your loved one gets older.
Take them grocery shopping
As people get older, they often feel less confident going out by themselves and they won’t go to the supermarket as regularly. This can result in their fridge and cupboards being empty, and them eating a lot less than they should be. A home care assistant can support your loved one with shopping and take them to their local supermarket for their weekly groceries, ensuring they have everything they need to make nutritious meals.
A home carer will be able to help them with meal planning too and if your elderly relative doesn’t know which foods they should be eating, a care assistant can suggest some flavorful and nutritious meals to try. Getting a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins from their meals will help to boost your loved one’s immune system and keep them healthy. So, when you arrange home care services, you won’t have to worry as much about them.
Assist them with meal preparation
When your elderly relative is struggling to prepare fresh meals and they’re frequently eating ready meals with low nutritional value, a healthcare assistant can support them in the kitchen. A carer can assist with meal preparation and basic cooking, making it much easier for your loved one to eat healthy balanced meals on a daily basis.
It isn’t uncommon for people’s appetites and eating habits to change as they get older, and many aren’t as excited by food as they used to be. Eating the same bland processed foods won’t help with this and it’s much more beneficial for elderly people to have some pre-prepared healthy meals they can cook whenever they’re hungry. When your elderly relative has homemade meals in their fridge or freezer, they will easily be able to ensure they’re eating nutritious foods and this will help them to stay healthy and energised.
Help them during meal times
Depending on their level of ability, your loved one may need some help during meal times. As they get older, they may start to struggle with eating and drinking, and a home carer can provide them with the assistance they need to ensure they’re getting important nutrients. If your elderly relative is having trouble with chewing or digestion, for example, you may want to book them an appointment with their dentist or doctor to see if there are any underlying problems too. A care assistant can even take them to these appointments if you’re unable to do so yourself.
Monitor their weight over time
It can be beneficial to keep an eye on your loved one’s weight when they’re living independently and this is something that a healthcare assistant can help you with. Whilst they’re providing domiciliary care or personal care at home, a carer can monitor your elderly relative’s weight and flag any concerns with you. Should they be losing too much weight, a healthcare assistant can encourage your loved one to eat some snacks during the day and help them to get the nutrients they need to maintain a healthy weight.
Arranging home help for the elderly
There are lots of different ways a carer can help to prevent malnutrition and the extra support they provide can help to keep your loved one healthy in their later years. If you would like to arrange care at home for an elderly relative, contact our team at Beloved Homecare today. We offer a range of home care services and we can provide your loved one with the day-to-day support they need whilst living independently.
You can find out more about how we help elderly, convalescing and disabled clients maintain the highest quality of life possible by exploring our website. Should you have any questions about the type of care and support our experienced team can provide, whether this is short or long-term, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.