There are few greater joys than when a senior loved one is discharged from
the hospital or rehabilitation facility and returns to the comfort of home.
Following this short-lived celebration are more tasks to maintain wellness
and quality of life. Typically, your loved one is released with a care plan
created by a doctor, and that may involve changes to your loved one’s diet.
There are all kinds of different scenarios that can affect a senior’s diet.
A senior yearning for salty and sweet comfort food may be in for a surprise
if the care plan includes a diet that drastically reduces the intake of
both. On the other hand, he or she may not be eating as much and may be
losing weight. Licensed nutritionist and professional caregiver Kathy
Warwick says it is common for seniors to return home from the hospital and
lack an appetite.
“Depression is a major reason that older adults stop eating and lose
weight, (so) caregivers can be instrumental in recognizing the symptoms of
depression and providing social support during the recovery period,” says
Warwick, of Jackson, Mississippi.
Aging Comes With Changing Taste Buds, Dehydration Risk
In her daily practice of caring for seniors, Warwick reminds family
caregivers of the importance of hydration and making sure their senior
loved one drinks enough water and healthy beverages. "Adequate fluid intake
is essential for all bodily functions," Warwick says. "Experienced
professional caregivers know to look for symptoms such as fatigue,
weakness, dizziness and perhaps constipation.” And older adults’ dietary
needs differ from a younger person’s needs because the natural thirst
mechanism that prompts someone to drink enough fluids does not function
well as adults age. Too much salt is especially bad for seniors, but they
often want foods with more of it because of diminished taste buds.
Sugar and salt intake are automatically worth monitoring. “You have to
watch for dark yellow or brownish color urine and encourage elders to drink
a variety of fluids all through the day,” Warwick says. “If clients have a
diagnosis of diabetes, beverages need to be mostly sugar-free.”
For seniors diagnosed with high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or
kidney disease, limiting sodium intake in the diet will help control these
conditions. Unfortunately, Warwick says, elders tend to lose the ability to
taste certain foods, so they miss the added salt. The Institute of
Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board recommends that adults between the ages
of 51 and 70 consume no more than 1.3 grams of sodium per day, which is
about half a teaspoon of salt. Seniors older than 71 should limit
themselves to 1.2 grams.
The professional caregiver serves as an accountability partner because a
proper diet can be critical in addressing specific issues – especially if
outlined in a care plan. It is essential to be aware of some potential
food-drug interactions because some medications should be taken with food
and others taken on an empty stomach for the medicine to work best. Foods
high in vitamin K, for example, can keep blood thinners from working as
they should. For instance, “If the older adult enjoys eating turnip greens,
spinach or broccoli, they should eat them two to three times a week every
week so that blood thinners can be adjusted accordingly,” Warwick says.
A professional caregiver can work with your senior loved one in ensuring
the senior accesses fresh fruits and vegetables, from various sources,
because that person will know with what the elder’s medications will not
adversely interact. Furthermore, caregivers should know about the role of
carbohydrates in a healthy eating plan and how different foods can affect
blood sugars.
Foods high in carbohydrates include starches, bread, cereals, grains,
fruit, fruit juices, milk, desserts, sweets and candy. "This does not mean
you have to exclude these foods, but it is important to limit portion sizes
and to spread the carbohydrate intake out over the day as evenly as
possible,” Warwick says. “In planning meals, keep in mind that starchy
vegetables such as corn, lima beans, black-eyed peas, sweet green peas,
sweet potatoes, and pinto beans are all counted as carbohydrates.”
Seek recipe help online, visit a local Farmers’ Market to learn from a
farmer or producer about ways to prepare healthy dishes and utilize
MyPlate for Older Adults. The MyPlate guide accounts for the unique dietary needs of seniors while
suggesting increased fluid intake and using herbs and spices for flavorful
meals without excess salt and sugar. The professional caregiver can post
the MyPlate guide on the refrigerator to help the family caregiver prepare
balanced meals.
This tool is part of the AARP Foundation’s long-term strategy to overcome
food insecurity among older adults, according to CEO JoAnn Jenkins on the
foundation’s
Healthy Living
webpage. More American seniors deal with food insecurity – that is, lack of
access to fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthful foods. In an
article posted in 2016, Jenkins wrote that the rate of food insecurity
among older Americans has more than doubled since 2001, putting more than
10 million older individuals at risk of going hungry every day. “An
effective approach to this problem is providing healthier meals while also
teaching older adults how to
eat healthier
on a limited budget,” Jenkins wrote.
“Keep in mind that though some seniors may need more care with everyday
tasks, they are not children - they are adults with many years of wisdom
and experience,” Warwick adds. “Elders have the right to refuse any or all
treatment and dietary restrictions if they choose.”
Why a Professional Caregiver is a Great Resource to Help Facilitate a
Healthy Diet
A caregiver is a great resource to help facilitate a healthy diet. They can
encourage seniors to try new foods, and their experience equips them with
the tactics necessary to make this task easier. “Many seniors resist the
idea of a special diet (because) a strict diet may be unnecessary and
burdensome,” says Warwick. “Some elders may decide they do not care to
adhere to a strict diet. Sometimes there are small changes they are willing
to make, and those should be the first focus.
After the senior and the caregiver become acquainted with MyPlate, or a
care plan that outlines a diet, the caregiver can help them create a
grocery list of new foods to try. Warwick suggests including superfoods
containing high levels of nutrients and minerals that build the immune
system and boost metabolism. “One way to include some superfoods is to
prepare a smoothie with high-protein Greek yogurt, assorted frozen berries
and a handful of raw baby spinach,” she says. “A smoothie is great for
someone who is having difficulty chewing or swallowing. Sometimes radiation
treatment for cancer can cause pain in the mouth or esophagus and a
smoothie can provide great nutrition while soothing the throat.”
For more information on how a professional caregiver can help your senior
loved one maintain healthy body weight,
click here.