5 Foods Home Care Assistance Can Help Seniors Eat More Of

 April 21, 2023

“You are what you eat” is a common saying, regardless of age. If that’s the case, everyone needs to make wise nutritional choices to live the life they want. The question is, do those choices change as people age? Are the food choices people make in their early thirties the same as they should make when they’re sixty or seventy years old? Having home care assistance helps seniors meal plan and cook, ensuring their choices are the best one’s for them.

Understanding What Seniors Need to Maintain Proper Health

Many issues related to aging change the outlook on things, including how seniors eat. Nutrition remains the same as people age, but as they age, they may need fewer calories while still needing energy. This means nutrients need to come from choices they may not have made in the past. Not only that, but how and when they eat might also change their choices.

Medicine may make food taste different or not settle in seniors’ stomachs well. Various medical conditions may make it hard to swallow or chew foods. Even cooking might become more complicated, which makes adding home care assistance essential.

What Five Foods Should Seniors Focus On? 

As seniors age, experts suggest focusing on a few essential foods. Home care assistance helps seniors incorporate these foods, which can be stressful when they’re not familiar with certain foods. Home care can also help seniors with mobility issues by grocery shopping and cooking. The foods seniors should focus on are listed below.

• Salmon: One of the best proteins seniors can eat, thanks to its vast nutritional benefits, is salmon. Research suggests it is excellent for eye health and the brain, thanks to the omega-3 benefits it provides.
• Citrus Fruits: Citrus fruits are good for people of any age. Vitamin C has anti-oxidant properties essential for seniors’ immune systems. With all the changes seniors encounter, ensuring their immune system is top-notch is key.
• Cruciferous vegetables: Not only are these vegetables a significant source of fiber, but they are also good for heart and brain health. Vegetables in this category include cabbage, broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts, just to name a few.
• Carrots: Carrots contain beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body. This is essential because the body can’t create its own source of vitamin A. Vitamin A works to improve vision and the immune system, as well as to provide seniors with other benefits.
• Edamame: Edamame, or soybeans, is another essential food for seniors. These cute little beans have anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory benefits. There is also ongoing research that suggests they decrease the risk of cancer as well.

Adding these foods to seniors’ diets will surely set them on their path to a longer life and better nutrition as they grow older. The more they can do to prepare for a brighter future, the better. Home care assistance does more than help with seniors’ diets. It can also help seniors stay active, increase their socialization, and live a better life.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care Assistance in Greentree, PA, please contact the caring staff at In-Home Quality Care today. Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area since 1990! Call 412-421-5202

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