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Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care
Diet & Nutrition

Healthy Substitutes When Cooking for Seniors

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Cooking for seniors is a big part of elderly care. But many family caregivers find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place when cooking for an elderly parent or relative. In cooking for older adults, it can be a struggle to follow healthy eating directives from doctors and health professionals. That’s especially true if your loved one’s taste buds are becoming less and less responsive to flavor, a common problem for the elderly. Healthy Substitutes When Cooking for Seniors
At Visiting Angels, our elderly care professionals are regularly called on to plan and prepare meals for our clients. Over the years, we’ve collected a number of tips for cooking for the elderly, including how to strike the right balance between health and flavor. Healthy Substitutes When Cooking for Seniors
Below, we’ve listed our top healthy substitutes when cooking for seniors.

Swap Spices & Fresh Herbs for Salt

Salt is a natural flavor enhancer, but high salt consumption is linked to cardiovascular problems. In old age, many seniors are told to cut back on their salt intake to prevent high blood pressure and heart disease risks.
This can be a challenge since salt is one of the first flavors that seniors lose sensitivity to. In response, many seniors add more and more salt to their foods to try to make them more flavorful.
If you’re cooking for an elderly loved one, we suggest choosing recipes that rely on fresh herbs and spices to enhance food’s flavor. This will ensure your loved one can taste the added flavor while avoiding the risks associated with heavy sodium intake. Get ideas for which herbs and spices to use here.

Swap Acidic & Naturally Sweet Ingredients for Sugar

Along with salty flavors, seniors quickly lose their ability to taste sweeter foods. Like salt, sugar is a cheap and easy way to make food taste better. And like salt, sugar is linked with an array of health issues.
One solution to this issue is to shift from recipes that focus on sweetness and instead choose dishes with a more citrusy and acidic profile. You’ll still want a little bit of sweetness in these dishes, so rely on naturally sweet foods like fruits, peppers, and sweet potatoes.

Swap Healthy Oils for Unhealthy Fats

Fats are an essential part of any diet, but it’s important to eat the right fats. Saturated and trans fats — such as those found in butter and red meat — can contribute to a range of health problems. But unsaturated fats can have a range of health benefits and often include healthy elements like omega-3 acids.
Some of the best sources of healthy fats include olive oil, canola oil, nuts, soy products, and fatty fish, such as salmon. These foods can contribute to healthy cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
If you’re having trouble cooking healthy foods for an elderly loved one, consider hiring a professional elderly care provider. Professional caregivers, like those at your local Visiting Angels, can attend to a range of elderly care needs, including meal planning and preparation. Contact your local Visiting Angels office today to get started.

Healthy Substitutes When Cooking for Seniors

Healthy Substitutes When Cooking for Seniors

Healthy Substitutes When Cooking for Seniors
 

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Fail Tips when Losing Weight
Diet & Nutrition

Fail Tips when Losing Weight

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

You have made a decision that your New Year’s resolution this 2016 will be losing weight. Getting fit, a healthier lifestyle and losing weight are the top New Year’s resolutions for Americans. And as studies have shown, nearly half of those who have made this as their resolution last year have failed. Fail Tips when Losing Weight
In order to remedy this, I bet you will read all the articles that will give you tips on how to be successful in this promise. But few fail to recognize their mistakes last year, and will continue on making it this year. This can be very stressful especially if your weight goes on a roller coaster, and shoots up every time. Fail Tips when Losing Weight

Here are some things people do to ensure that they fail at losing weight this 2017:

Doing too much too soon

“People get all excited about counting calories, they over exercise and under eat, and it ends up being too much restriction. Three weeks after they start, they can’t manage it, and the scale tips the other way,” said Jenny Hadfield, exercise psychologist.
Hadfield added that the body adapts to the drastic reduction in caloric intake. It slows down the metabolic rates. Hence, the weight gain after losing a few pounds.
Tip: Take baby steps. A hundred calories before a 30 minute workout works, says Hadfield.

Generalized diets

Popular diets that promises to work for all does prove to be effective, in the short term. But as people often gets bored, and these diets are hard to follow, they would gain the weight back faster than expected.
And as one study have proved, an effective diet for one may be detrimental to another.

Tip:

Your outlook on food matters. Don’t look at cake as a “guilt food” but as celebratory dessert. This means you only eat it when there is something to celebrate and not as something to avoid. People always go for those that are banned, so the more you want of it. Rewiring your brain to have a different outlook on certain foods can be very helpful. Losing weight will be much easier this way as you don’t restrict yourself more often.

Eating less without exercise

Diets and exercise go hand in hand. Doing one without the other is like burning your own body. It “is like trying to drive your car with zero gas,” says Jim White, a Virginia Beach-based dietician and exercise psychologist.
Tip: Choose your workout routine wisely, one that works for you and your busy schedule. Also, meet with a dietician to customize a meal plan that will complement it.

Going gaga on energy bars

Energy bars are being marketed as a snack, nutrition and protein source all in one. So those who are fitness buffs are natural consumers of it. But for those who are ill-informed, they usually view it as a snack, which means, they would be thinking that they have not eaten a full meal yet. As they fail to know, these bars have sugars and fat, that is needed to be shed through an intensive workout. Eating another full meal would be consuming another 500 calories.
Tip: Instead of binging on energy bars, it would be better to eat more natural foods, like fruits and veggies. As for proteins, fish, poultry, and lean meat will do the work.

Overcompensating your calorie burn

You have worked your a** off at the gym, now you need to recover all those lost calories. Experts argue with this as after an increased activity, people tend to feel hungrier or entitled to a piece donut.
As the old adage says,” A minute on the lips, is forever on the hips.” So don’t overeat after a workout.
Tip: To avoid hunger pangs after a workout, nibble on a snack before your routine. Also, plan your post-workout snack. A fat-free Greek yogurt, a piece of fruit, or some rice cakes with peanut butter are some great ideas.
So now that you have learned what NOT to do, I wish you well on your resolution. Now go lose some weight! Fail Tips when Losing Weight
Article from healthaim.com

Fail Tips when Losing Weight

Fail Tips when Losing Weight Fail Tips when Losing Weight Fail Tips when Losing Weight Fail Tips when Losing Weight Fail Tips when Losing Weight Fail Tips when Losing Weight Fail Tips when Losing Weight Fail Tips when Losing Weight

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Food Deserts Have an Outsized Impact on Seniors
Diet & Nutrition

Food Deserts Have an Outsized Impact on Seniors

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

It’s no secret that American nutrition is in something of a crisis. We live in the most plentiful time in history, with food easier to grow than ever before. But in this time of plenty, the majority of Americans have embraced a diet that is high in sugar, sodium, and processed foods and low in the foods that keep us healthy. Food Deserts Have an Outsized Impact on Seniors
That demand has driven the way food is made available to Americans nationwide. One unique consequence of this change has been the rise in “food deserts.” These are areas where it is considered near impossible to find healthy foods. It should come as no surprise that food deserts are particularly harmful to seniors, who bear the biggest burdens of poor nutrition.

Over 20 Million Americans in Food Desert

A food desert is defined as a geographic area where access to affordable, healthy foods is practically non-existent. Typically, these are areas where there is no proper grocery store or fruit market within a convenient travelling distance. In these areas, residents often depend on fast food and the processed, pre-packaged foods that line the walls of the local convenience store.
You might think that there are only a handful of food deserts in America, but unfortunately, you would be mistaken. Today, more than 23 million Americans live in areas that are considered food deserts, and there are some who believe that this number is an underestimate.

Poor Nutrition is Hardest on Seniors

Studies have shown that the majority of Americans suffer from a lack of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed foods in their diet. This is true even of Americans who live in areas with easy to access nutritious foods. Simply put, most Americans end up eating an unhealthy diet even when the option of a healthier diet is available.
But when you don’t have the option of healthier food, there’s almost no way to escape the effects of malnutrition. Of course, this is a condition that’s harder on seniors than anyone else. Since older Americans are more susceptible to illness, chronic conditions, and poor health, a lack of nutrition has an outsized effect on the older population.

Correcting the Problem

Recently, efforts have been made to limit the number of Americans living in food deserts. Federal, state, and private outreach programs have been set up to bring nutritious foods into areas where they’re typically hard to come by.
But if you have an elderly loved one who lives in an area where it’s hard to find healthy food, you can take action on your own. You can offer to shop for groceries on their behalf, or simply bring a collection of healthier foods on each visit to their home. If you have the time to help them prepare healthy, balanced meals, that’s even better.
If it’s hard for you to be there for your loved one, you might also consider a home care service. At Visiting Angels, our care providers regularly help seniors with grocery shopping and meal preparation, helping clients ensure they receive the nutrition they need. Another way to get involved is through supporting organizations that combat poor nutrition and food deserts. To help, you might consider a donation to Feeding America or another similar charity.
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Diet & Nutrition

Add Healthy Snacking to This Year's Resolutions

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

shutterstock_244133944Add Healthy Snacking to This Year’s Resolutions
Forget diet shakes and strict meal plans. This year, pledge to eat more snacks! Healthy snacking is emerging as a new food trend for consumers who have resolved to focus on health and wellness.Add Healthy Snacking to This Year’s Resolutions
Today’s consumers see snacking as an integral part of their lifestyles. From stressed-out Generation Xers to comfort-seeking Baby Boomers and wellness-savvy Millennials, consumers recognize that smart mini-meals can be part of an all-day wellness plan, according to U.S. trend watcher Iconoculture.
Iconoculture reports that consumers want to bring their lives back into balance. They crave basic, comforting, filling and better-for-them foods when they snack, including nuts, seeds, fruits, popcorn and veggies.
“Consumers want their snacks to be multitasking munchies,” said chef and cookbook author Tina Salter, who develops recipes for Diamond culinary nuts, Emerald snack nuts and Pop Secret popcorn. “They want snacks that provide health benefits, but that are also convenient, delicious, satisfying and taste a little indulgent.”
HEALTHY SNACKS, NUMEROUS BENEFITS
One of the keys to healthy snacking is not just eating foods that are good for the body, Salter said, but also finding treats that are handy and leave us satisfied without the guilt. That’s why so many healthy snackers are turning to nuts and popcorn. Both snacks are high in fiber, have proven antioxidant benefits and provide a whole host of benefits versus other snacks.
In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that scientific evidence suggests, but does not prove, that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. Other facts supporting nuts as a part of a healthy diet include:

  • Walnuts are one of the most concentrated sources of omega-3 fatty acids. One serving of walnuts, about 1/3 cup or 12-16 walnut halves, several times a week has been shown to lower overall cholesterol and blood pressure while reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and fighting arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. For more information, visit the California Walnut Board online.
  • Almonds are a beneficial source of vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and a good source of fiber, copper, phosphorous, and riboflavin. A one-ounce serving, about 23 almonds, has 13 grams of good unsaturated fats, just 1 gram of saturated fat, and is always cholesterol free. For more information, visit Almond Board of California.

“Nuts are delicious, nutritious and portable, making them an excellent choice for today’s busy consumers,” Salter said. “Stash them in your desk at work, in your purse or gym bag and in your car so you always have a healthy snacking option at hand.”
Many delicious and nutritious snack products can be found in grocery store snack aisles including Emerald Nuts in on-the-go canisters and 100 calorie packs as well as five flavors of Emerald Trail Mix in resealable pouches.
MOVIE NIGHT JUST GOT HEALTHIER
A recent study showed that plain popcorn has the highest level of polyphenols among snack foods; polyphenols potentially reduce risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases. With zero cholesterol or trans fats, plain popcorn is 100 percent whole grain and is an easy to prepare snack for the whole family.
An economical snack, popcorn such as Pop Secret 94% Fat Free Microwave Popcorn or the new Pop Secret Jumbo Popping Corn Kernels for make-at-home popcorn, provides a satisfying, high fiber treat with high satiety levels to aid in hunger management.
Visit feedyourfingers.com for more information about the health benefits of nuts and for delicious nut recipe ideas from Diamond Foods, a premier producer and marketer of Diamond culinary nuts, Emerald snack nuts and Pop Secret popcorn. Download a free PDF of the “Nuts for Healthy Living” guide at diamondnuts.com/live_well/.

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Kitchen Safety Tips for Seniors Receiving In-Home Care
Diet & Nutrition

How to Lose Weight During Holidays

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson

Three Simple Ways To Lose Weight… Especially During The Holidays

The holiday season is just around the corner and we all tend to throw our healthy eating habits out the window! Here are a few tips to help keep your eating habits on track. How to Lose Weight During Holidays
 

#1 – Eat more Protein

When it comes to weight loss, the KING of all nutrients is protein. Your body is like a machine and it burns calories when digesting and metabolizing the foods you eat. By increasing the amount of protein, and having a diet high in protein, can boost metabolism by up to 100 calories per day. An added benefit of a high-protein diet is it can also make you feel more full and reduce your appetite.
Some studies have shown that people eat more than 400 fewer calories per day on a high-protein diet. When Thanksgiving comes around, have a second serving of turkey!

#2 – Limit Sugar Intake

As I have mentioned in prior posts, eating excess sugar has been linked with serious diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Because sugars are commonly hidden in processed foods, many people do not realize the amount of sugar they have in their diet! Research shows many Americans eat 15 teaspoons of sugar every day. Minimizing the intake of added sugar is a great way to improve your diet.

3# – Drink More Water

Yes, it is true…drinking water DOES help with weight loss. Drinking water before you eat will cause you to fill full and result in reduced caloric intake especially in middle age and older individuals. Water is an excellent beverage choice because it will replace other beverages which are high in sugar or empty calories. Water will also increase your metabolism, but best of all water is plain good for you!
There you have it, three simple ways to continue to eat healthy and even lose weight while still enjoying good foods! An added benefit of a diet like this is reducing inflammation in the body. Do you suffer from back, shoulder, or knee pain?
-Flemming Arnott

How to Lose Weight During Holidays

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Senior Healthy Eating this Fall
Diet & Nutrition

Senior Healthy Eating this Fall

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Healthy Fall Foods for Seniors (and Care Providers!)

Fall is the most beautiful time of year for many Americans. It’s also one of the most delicious. Harvest season is a time of abundance, with many of our country’s tastiest staples in season. For those of us in the senior care industry, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to get seniors eating healthier. Simply put, there are all kinds of healthy fall foods for seniors. Senior Healthy Eating this Fall
And of course, it’s not just seniors who benefit from harvest season. Even senior care providers — whether you’re a family caregiver or a care professional — can enjoy the benefits of healthy fall eating.
“Healthy fall eating is a win-win for those of us in the senior care industry,” says Larry Meigs, President and CEO of national senior care network Visiting Angels. “For our clients, healthy fall foods are a perfect way to improve their health and quality of life. For us senior care providers, harvest eating is a great way to gain healthy energy and get the nutrients we need to give the best care possible.”

Our Healthiest Fall Food Picks

There are so many healthy fall foods for seniors that it’s tough to even narrow down the list. But after much deliberation (and snacking) our senior care experts picked eight of our favorite foods for seniors and care providers: Senior Healthy Eating this Fall

  • The quintessential fall fruit, apples can be tricky eating for seniors with dentures or sensitive gums and teeth. But apples are also packed with antioxidants, fiber, and flavor. Consider recipes that soften apples for seniors with chewing difficulties.
  • A sweet and nutty root vegetable that comes with plenty of potassium and fiber, helping maintain your cardiovascular and digestive system.
  • Winter Squash. Sweet and easy to eat, this might be the perfect fall root vegetable. Rich in vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, winter squash will keep your bones and your brain healthy.
  • Pears are another fiber-rich food, but these sweet tree fruits are also brimming with vitamin C, helping bolster the immune system through the worst of cold and flu season.
  • Skip the cheese sauce in favor of roasted garlic seasoning. Or puree cauliflower for a great soup base. Either way, your body will thank you for the vitamin C boost from this tasty broccoli relative.
  • Brussel Sprouts. Their slight bitterness makes them a tough sell for kids, but us adults know that Brussel sprouts are as delicious as they are healthy. Folate, iron, and high amounts of Vitamin K mean these leafy green bitefuls can boost your cardiovascular health.
  • Sweet Potatoes. Roasted sweet potatoes with a little bit of olive oil and a pinch of salt are a true fall treat. Better yet, they come packed with vitamin A and iron.
  • Technically, pumpkin is a type of winter squash. But this fall staple deserves its own category for its excellent fiber content along with plenty of potassium and vitamin B. And don’t throw away those seeds! Roasted pumpkin seeds are a perfect source of healthy protein.

At Visiting Angels, we’re passionate about keeping seniors healthy. Whether it’s recommending healthy fall foods for seniors, giving our clients a helping hand around the house, or providing seniors with companionship, our senior care services have been helping seniors live healthier, happier lives since 1998. To connect with a senior care provider in your area, call us today at 1-800-365-4189 or look up your local senior care provider online.

Senior Healthy Eating this Fall

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Under-eating in Senior Home Care
Diet & Nutrition

Under-eating in Senior Home Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

“Anorexia of Aging” – Coping with Under-Eating in Senior Home Care

When it comes to senior home care, one of the biggest concerns is undereating among the elderly. Lack of appetite is unfortunately widespread among America’s seniors. While a small decrease in appetite is natural and in many cases healthy, many seniors experience a dangerous decrease in appetite in their seventies and eighties. This condition has given rise to the term “Anorexia of Aging.” Under-eating in Senior Home Care
“Proper nutrition is key to healthy aging — but it’s also a struggle for many of our clients,” says Larry Meigs, President and CEO of the Visiting Angels senior home care network. “We’ve long held that Americans need to have a bigger conversation about healthy eating for seniors.” Under-eating in Senior Home Care
If you suspect that an elderly person in your life is starting to suffer from a reduced appetite, there are steps you can take to counteract the effects of undereating. Poor nutrition can have a serious impact on your loved one’s well-being and put them at significant risk for a number of conditions.
Luckily, there are a number of strategies used by families and senior home care professionals that encourage healthier eating in the elderly.

Causes of Under-eating in Seniors

There are a number of behavioral and biological changes that can lead to seniors eating fewer nutrients and calories than they should be.
Some of these changes are directly related to appetite. Seniors use up less energy than younger individuals, so their bodies require fewer calories. In response, seniors’ bodies respond by lowering their appetites. One recent study further suggests that elderly individuals produce a higher amount of peptide YY (aka PYY), a hormone that suppresses hunger. Reduced taste buds also make eating less pleasurable for seniors.
Other changes that lead to reduced appetite are somewhat less direct. For instance, many seniors wear dentures or suffer from dental problems, which can make eating uncomfortable or even painful. Meanwhile, medications can create or exacerbate appetite problem. Seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia may also forget whether or not they have eaten, especially if they already suffer from reduced appetite.

Effects of Under-eating in Seniors

The implications of undereating for seniors may be greater than you think. As those of us in the senior home care industry know, “anorexia of aging” has been tied to numerous health problems. According to the NCBI, poor nutrition is tied to “the development and progression of chronic diseases… impaired muscle function, decreased bone mass, immune dysfunction, anemia, reduced cognitive function, poor wound healing, [and] delayed recovery from surgery.”
Ultimately, undereating can cut years from your loved one’s life. That same NCBI study reports that under-nutrition is associated with “increased morbidity and mortality” in the elderly. So if your loved one’s body or lifestyle is causing a severe loss of appetite, it’s important to take action.

Senior Home Care Tips to Prevent Under-eating

At Visiting Angels, our senior home care professionals can coordinate with families to create a senior home care plan that addresses a client’s reduced appetite. But it’s possible for seniors and their family’s to tackle undereating on their own.
Here are some of the strategies that senior home care professionals regularly use or recommend to clients to prevent undereating in elderly individuals.

  • Have Meals Together. Undereating is more common among seniors who eat alone. This makes it easier for seniors to forget or skip meals if they don’t feel particularly hungry. If you can, eat meals with your loved one, or find a way that they are guaranteed company when they eat.
  • Cook with Healthy, Calorie-Rich Foods. When seniors don’t have the appetite to eat more, the best way to address undereating is by adding calories without adding food mass. You can use healthy, easy-to-eat, calorie-rich foods like olive oil, yogurt, peanut butter, chickpeas, or avocadoes.
  • Take Care of Meal Preparation. You can make sure that your loved one is receiving nutritious meals regularly by overseeing meal preparation. Or — if you lack the time or cooking acumen to prepare meals yourself — you can see if there is a meals-on-wheels program in your area.
  • Address Any Dental Concerns. Loose or poor-fitting dentures can make chewing uncomfortable. The same can be said for tooth decay or gum disease. Ask your loved one if they have any trouble chewing and consider following up with a visit to the dentist.
  • Monitor Medications. Many medications can result in lowered appetite. So ask your loved one about the side effects of his or her prescriptions. If you feel your loved one may be losing their appetite due to medication, encourage them to speak with their doctor about possible alternatives.

Visiting Angels senior home care professionals make living independently easier for America’s seniors. Our services include nutrition assistance services, such as grocery shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation. Learn more about our senior home care programs by visiting our website.

Under-eating in Senior Home Care

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Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?
Diet & Nutrition

Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?

by Jeff Dailey
written by Jeff Dailey

We are what we eat, right? Good nutrition is beneficial at any age, but in particular for our aging loved ones the benefits worth noting are increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness/disease, higher energy levels, a more robust immune system, faster recuperation times and better management of chronic health problems. Unfortunately, one thing I have observed in my years of caring for clients is that when seniors start to struggle in the home by themselves, nutrition suffers. Reasons can vary from budgetary, depression, or medical issues such as dementia, chronic illness or physical limitations. Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?
 
Nutrition might not be near the top of your list of worries for your aging parent, however, it really should be. Proper nutrition for older adults is even more important than ever, with research revealing that poor nutritional decisions can eventually lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Preliminary studies have shown a connection between omega-3 fatty acids and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A diet rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol could increase the risk of the most common type of dementia.
For some seniors living at home, the tasks of planning, purchasing and preparing meals feels like it is not worth the effort or they simply cannot handle it anymore. Or, there might be other factors that have come into play. Much like assessing mental capacities, assessing nutritional habits can be like reading between the lines. What you see on the outside is your loved one not eating well. The cause might be something completely avoidable. Common themes of seniors not eating well often center around:

  • Inability to chew – from dentures, tooth issues, weakened jaw muscles
  • Upset stomach – causes include too much gas or medication irritation to stomach lining
  • Inability to shop – from inability to drive or cognitive ability to make shopping lists or meal planning
  • Inability to cook – caused by inability to stand for long periods of time, unable to reach utensils or cooking accessories, fear of leaving oven or stove on.

Sometimes the simplest answer IS the answer. If you probe a little deeper, you might find a simple solution or a way to have a caregiver help you remedy the situation. Observing, assessing and planning can be a tall order for family members. Taking the responsibility for someone else’s health and well-being is stressful and sometimes out of a person’s comfort zone. There is help. One of the roles a professional caregiver can play is to help with nutritional assessment; meal planning and can even extend to shopping and cooking.
Many professional caregivers are trained to factor in good nutrition while making meals more pleasant and flavorful. They will create a plan with options and advice to improve your loved one’s nutritional health and quality of life. Additionally, the experience of engaging the senior in the process and helping them feel like they are contributing can bring the joy back into dining—using eye-catching table settings and companionship to lift the moods of those needing care as well as providing fundamental nutrition.
According to Caregiving.com, check the following when you want to assess the nutrition risk for your loved one. If the answers to most of the following questions are “Yes,” your loved one is at risk and you should contact a professional for some nutritional intervention.

  • Has your loved one recently lost weight? About how much?
  • Have they had any recent appetite loss?
    • For how long? (days, weeks, months)
  • Do they have difficulty chewing?
  • Do they have difficulty swallowing?
  • Food allergies?
  • A special diet?
  • Have you been given instructions about a diet?
  • Do they eat fewer than 2 meals per day?
  • Do they eat few fruits, vegetables, and dairy products?
  • How many servings per day?
    • Fruits?
    • Vegetables?
    • Dairy?
  • Do they drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day?
  • Do they eat most meals alone?

These are factors that should be considered on a periodic, but regular basis, or if there has been a noticeable change in weight or eating habits. Professional caregivers typically track daily food intake and can help you recognize such developments and risk factors. Maintaining a healthy diet is proven to yield numerous health benefits but there is a bigger picture. Good nutrition leads to better health which leads to an improvement in your loved one’s quality of life, mobility, and independence.
About the Author: Suzanne McNeely, MSW, NCG, CLPF, CMC, is president and founder of Senior Planning Services (SPS) in Santa Barbara, CA. She began SPS in 1989 after many years of working in social services and hospital administration. Suzanne designed SPS to help advocate and provide guidance in all aspects of daily life for the elderly, including psychological, physical, financial and legal issues. She can be reached at smcneely@seniorplanningservices.com.

Is Your Aging Loved One At Risk for Malnutrition?

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Fight Aging with These Vitamins
Diet & Nutrition

Fight Aging with These Vitamins

by Andrew Vertson
written by Andrew Vertson
Are you looking for the magical fountain of youth? If so, the first place you should look is your diet! Many health professionals preach it is more important what you put IN your body than what you do to your body. Below is a list of 5 vitamins you should start adding to your diet… Fight Aging with These Vitamins
 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is essential for collagen production to help with skin repair and also for keeping your bones strong. Have you damaged your skin from too much sun? Vitamin C can repair that damage and this vitamin is most commonly found in citrus fruits.

Vitamin A Fight Aging with These Vitamins

Vitamin A is an excellent source of anti-oxidants; including Retinol. Vitamin A works inside the cells and slows the breakdown of collagen. This in turn gives your skin a healthy, young, appearance with more elasticity. As an added benefit it keeps your immune system strong! Some of the foods high in this vitamin are carrots, mangos, and even kale.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D often helps prevent the under looked aging effect: bone loss. Vitamin D and calcium are needed to keep strong and healthy bones. Bone loss causes sagging, especially in the face so keeping strong bones provides a younger appearance. Milk and dairy products, also fatty fish, provide sources of vitamin D.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is another vitamin that is good for the skin. Vitamin K also strengthens collagen and is responsible to keep skin strong and thick, which will lead to less bruising as we age. Green, leafy, vegetables are great sources of vitamin K.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps fight damaging free radicals at the cellular level and it’s one of the most potent antioxidants out there. It provides protection to the skin and has anti-inflammatory benefits also. Vitamin E is commonly found in nuts and seeds, as well as, certain oils.
Next time you are at the gym, or in physical therapy, working on your body…think about what good fuel you should be putting in your body to help with the healing process and to slow the aging process!

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