While a healthy, productive lifestyle can be enjoyed at any age, priorities need to shift to compensate for changing biological needs. As your senior loved one advances in age, it becomes more important to develop healthy eating habits to prevent or minimize age-related conditions like arthritis and bone loss.
Compensate for Age-Related Bone Loss
Anywhere from 10 to 30 percent of the adult skeleton is remodeled in some way each year, with a loss in bone density being one of the results of those changes. Encourage your loved one to compensate for age-related bone loss with:
- Calcium-rich dairy products like yogurt and nonfat milk
- Red peppers, green peppers, oranges, and other vitamin-rich fruits and veggies
- Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines
Handling all the aspects of a loved one’s health, including diet, can be challenging for a family caregiver. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality home care service, Assisting Hands Home Care can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to helping seniors live longer and healthier lives.
Embrace Colorful Fruits & Vegetables
Seniors should eat at least five servings of foods that are high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber per day in the form of full meals or snacks. Help your loved one meet this dietary requirement by embracing colorful fruits and veggies, since such selections tend to be rich in nutrients seniors need.
Preparing meals and monitoring their loved ones’ diets are just a couple of the many responsibilities of family caregivers. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional Respite Care. Milwaukee, WI, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. Our caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Reduce Sodium Levels
Excessive salt consumption can increase the risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. Eating low-fat and low-sodium foods can also boost senior heart health. Help your loved one lower sodium levels with:
- Making adjustments to favorite soup and stew recipes to include low-salt variations
- Serving fresh fruits rather than canned varieties, which often use salt as a preservative
- Avoiding pickled foods, processed meats, and other foods high in sodium
Your loved one can still have some of his or her favorite foods in moderation while making dietary adjustments with age to maintain muscle strength and reduce health risks. The benefits of a balanced senior diet can be further enhanced with age-appropriate exercise and regular physical activity.
If you have a senior loved one who needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of Home Care Milwaukee families can trust. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. To learn more about our highly trained caregivers, call us today.
