Easy Ways To Encourage Your Senior Parent To Eat Better
If you’re concerned that your senior parent isn’t getting enough to eat you’re not alone. Malnutrition is a big health concern for seniors and their families. There are many things that could make your mom or dad not want to eat properly, like medication side effects, feeling sick, being afraid they will hurt themselves cooking, or just not wanting to eat alone.
But while you’re working on solving the issues that are causing your mom or dad to have low appetite you also need to make sure that they are getting enough calories and eating healthy food. One way to encourage them to eat more is to get elder care.
An elder care provider can cook your mom or dad’s favorite dishes and share meals with them too. With daily encouragement and assistance from an elder care provider your senior parent is more likely to start eating regularly again. Other things that may get your mom or dad to eat are:
Small, Frequent Meals
Try giving your mom or dad smaller meals throughout the day instead of serving three large meals. Prepare some healthy snacks and offer your parent those every few hours. Healthy snacks like crackers and cheese, cold grapes, a protein shake, a smoothie, Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese and fruit are excellent for seniors.
Give Them Nutrient-Dense Foods
If your mom or dad really doesn’t have an appetite try serving them nutrient-dense foods so that they are getting the biggest nutritional bang for the buck. Foods like yogurt, cheese, and nuts which have protein are good examples of nutrient-dense foods. Avocados, peanut butter, and bone broth are also very nutrient-dense foods.
Try Flavor Enhancers
If food is tasting funny to your parent because they are sick or because of their medication try adding more seasoning, serving sauces and condiments, or using high-protein dips like hummus to make the food taste better.
Give Them Easy-to-Eat Foods
If your mom or dad is having trouble gripping utensils, or they’re afraid of spilling food, give them food that is soft and bite-sized. Rice, couscous, oatmeal, and other grains are soft and easy to eat. Canned fruit, yogurt, and cottage cheese are also easy to eat. Get trays of cut-up fruit and veggie trays with pre-cut veggies so that your senior parent can choose whatever bite-sized pre-cut foods they like.
Let Them Eat Where They Want
The days of formal family meals are over. If your mom or dad wants to eat in the living room get them a sturdy tray table so they can eat in the living room. If they prefer to eat in the kitchen while their care provider cleans up make sure there is a comfortable chair at the kitchen counter or table for them. Let your mom or dad decide where is the most comfortable place for them to eat. You may also want to get some utensils that are sized for seniors and have wide foam grips so that they are easier for seniors to hold.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care in Houston, TX, contact the caring staff at Personal Caregiving Services at 832-564-0338. Providing Care in Houston, Bellaire, West University Place, Katy, Sugar Land, and the surrounding areas.
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