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Tag: Nutrition

What Are the Best Tips for Storing and Preparing Frozen Foods?

Posted on by Craig Bass

Frozen foods are both convenient and cost-effective for aging adults. Whether seniors are eating home-cooked meals that have been prepared in advance and then stored in the freezer or are relying on things like frozen vegetables to eat healthier, there are lots of ways to make meals easier with frozen food. Senior home care can help even more to make healthy, regular meals something seniors have easy access to on a daily basis.

Storing Frozen Foods Properly

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to storing frozen foods properly. First, the ideal temperature for frozen foods is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. It’s a good idea to use a freezer thermometer to verify that the freezer is set to the proper temperature. Most frozen foods have a recommended storage time. Homemade foods are usually okay to freeze for up to several months at a time. Pre-packaged frozen foods can be kept in the containers they were purchased in, but over time they can develop freezer burn. Homemade foods should be stored in airtight containers, like freezer bags, in order to keep them as safe as possible from both freezer burn and contamination. Label containers with the date and the food that is in the container.

Preparing Frozen Foods

Most frozen foods should be thawed before cooking, especially if those foods will be cooked in the oven or on the stovetop. Microwaveable foods might not need thawing first, depending on the type of food going into the microwave. Foods that do need to be thawed should always be kept in the fridge, not on the kitchen counter. Although lots of people make it a habit to thaw foods on the kitchen counter, this can actually be a dangerous choice in terms of food safety. Thorough cooking helps to kill off bacteria and ensure that food is safe to eat.

Dealing with Leftovers

Leftovers can be a danger area for seniors. If there is food left over, it should be put into the refrigerator as quickly as possible after eating. Leftovers in the refrigerator aren’t going to stick around forever, unfortunately. Seniors may need help from family caregivers or home care providers to stay on top of clearing out the fridge periodically so leftovers don’t become dangerous.

Senior Home Care Can Be a Huge Help

Home care providers are always helpful when it comes to keeping seniors fed a healthy diet. They can assist seniors with shopping for healthy foods, preparing meals, and making sure that foods are stored safely. Senior home care can also help to make sure that aging adults are eating regularly, which can be a big problem at times.

The easier it is for aging adults to access safe and healthy food, the more likely they are going to be eating healthy meals on a regular basis. Frozen foods and meals can help to make that happen. Senior home care is an imperative resource if aging adults need some extra help keeping up with meal preparation and other tasks related to cooking and eating.

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Fountain Hills, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Getting More B12 Into Your Senior’s Diet

Posted on by Craig Bass

Vitamin B12, commonly known as cyanocobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin required for optimal adrenal gland function, nerve tissue health, and red blood cell synthesis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 31 persons over the age of 51 had inadequate vitamin B12 levels, according to the results of a 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. More than 5% of people over 65 are also affected by the deficit. Vitamin B12 is especially essential for older persons since the body’s absorption of the mineral decreases with age.

Seniors might acquire dietary deficits and other major health problems as they age. Maintaining a good quality of life might be difficult for some seniors, but senior home care can assist them in accomplishing this aim. Families may rely on senior home care professionals to assist their elderly loved ones in making lifestyle choices that will boost their chances of living a longer and healthier life.

Understanding Vitamin B Deficiency

Seniors with insufficient vitamin B12 levels might develop pernicious anemia, which causes inexplicable tiredness, fast heart rate, joint discomfort, and trouble breathing. Memory loss and other cognitive impairment symptoms are typical in B12-deficient elderly and may be misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s or mental illness. Confusion and despair are common cognitive symptoms, as are hallucinations and paranoia. Other symptoms include numbness or tingling in the limbs, loss of muscular coordination, an inflamed and swollen tongue, and jaundice. Although symptoms may be mild at first, they might worsen with time and cause the deficit to worsen. Here are some ways senior home care can help to get more vitamin B in a senior’s diet.

Dairy Products Can Be Added to a Senior’s Diet

A bowl of fortified cereal is a simple method to receive B12. Whole-grain products often provide 25 to 100% of the daily minimum intake. Adding low-fat milk, skim milk, or yogurt to dry cereal boosts the B12 content by 15 to 20%. Another fantastic way to obtain nutrition is by consuming a couple of eggs and a dairy product.

Consume More Lean Meats

Vitamin B12 is abundant in lean meat. As an alternative, consider buffalo meat. Buffalo meat is naturally reduced in calories, saturated fat, and total fat content, while still supplying heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids to seniors. Organic grass-fed beef is another rich source of B12.

Seafood Can be Added Into Meals

Four to five ounces of salmon, sardines, or trout in a lunch or dinner meal is an excellent approach to increasing B12 levels. Clams are an additional option. Three ounces of clams provide 100 percent of the necessary dose of the vitamin, as well as iron, selenium, zinc, and protein.

Adding Nutritional Yeast On Foods

Vegans, vegetarians, and seniors who do not consume red meat can consider adding nutritional yeast to their diets. To increase daily consumption, add one tablespoon to casseroles or other meals. Although certain plant foods include trace levels of vitamin B12, nutritional yeast is a superior source.

When In Doubt, Check with Their Doctor About Supplements

Vitamin B12, folic acid, and other B vitamins are often included in over-the-counter multivitamins. When inserted beneath the tongue, sublingual vitamins dissolve. Seniors with severe deficits are often administered vitamin B12 injections as a supplement. Other medication alternatives include vitamin-containing nasal gels.

Source
https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/what-to-know-about-vitamin-b12-dosage-for-older-adults

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Queens Creek, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

How To Encourage Seniors To Eat Healthy

Posted on by Craig Bass

It might be difficult to get seniors who lack the appetite to eat. Numerous factors contribute to some elderly persons losing their appetite or refusing food. However, this does not negate your concern for them and your efforts to provide them with the nutrients they need. Occasionally, little adjustments may have a significant impact. You may be working and can’t help your senior parents out at home, or you can’t ensure they are eating adequately. Some of you may not know how to encourage seniors in a healthy way.

When you cannot be there for your senior parents, it is crucial to have someone there for them. Seniors may not want to bother their children or impose on anyone’s lives, but they will need to care for them. Personal care at home can help seniors age in place without the need to have family there 24/7. Caregivers are set to help seniors thrive when they want to age in place.

Personal care at home may help a senior remember to eat healthily or drive them to the grocery store to make healthy options. Here are six tips for seniors who have lost their appetite. When experimenting with these concepts, be patient, be inventive, keep exploring, and avoid becoming frustrated.

Have a Meal Schedule

A senior may struggle to keep a meal schedule on their own, but this is another thing that personal care at home may help with. Seniors may struggle with a schedule because they have health conditions that make cooking for themselves harder. However, one of the best ways to encourage them to eat healthily is by sticking to a regular eating schedule. This can include snacks.

Small But High Nutrition

Specific individuals may feel overwhelmed when confronted with an abundance of food. Serve smaller amounts rather than a large dish. Alternatively, you may experiment with a daily pattern where your older adult has five small meals rather than three bigger ones.

Stop Using Utensils

The irritation associated with being unable to use a spoon, fork, or knife may cause some older persons to stop eating altogether. To make eating easier for them, consider presenting items that can be eaten without utensils or experimenting with adaptable utensils. Try finding finger foods that the seniors can simply pick up and eat.

Healthy Snacks On Hand

Certain individuals may choose to graze rather than have substantial meals throughout the day. Keep a variety of nutritious, delectable, and easy-to-eat snacks on hand so kids may choose from various healthy alternatives.

Liquid Foods May Be Best

Chewy foods can be tiring for anyone but especially older adults. Finding ways to juice vegetables, make milkshakes, or even fruit smoothies can be beneficial. There are ways to make these drinks healthy and nutritious.

Take Notes

Your or personal care at home providers can start keeping track of what the senior enjoys or what works best. When you begin to notice these habits, it can encourage a senior to eat healthy a lot easier.

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Scottsdale, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

National Mocktail Week Helps Your Parents Embrace Healthier Habits

Posted on by Craig Bass

One of the biggest challenges for older adults can be giving up that pint of beer, a glass of wine, or a favorite cocktail. Yet, several of the more common prescription medications the elderly take have alcoholic beverages listed in the contraindications.

The second week of January is National Mocktail Week. It’s a good time to join your parents and embrace healthier habits. Here are some of the best ways to use mocktails to get your parents to give up their favorite dinner-time beverages, and how elder care can help.

What Are Your Parents Favorite Beverages?

What are your parents’ favorite cocktails? Your dad loves a gin and tonic. There are non-alcoholic gins on the market, or you could make it with fresh lime juice, tonic water, and ice. Your mom’s craving for a Moscow Mule is easily met with fresh lime juice, a stevia-sweetened ginger ale, soda water, and sprigs of mint.

If they love having a pint of beer with their dinner, look into hop oil. You can add some drops of hop oil to a glass of ice and seltzer. Look into sparkling grape juice for a glass of wine and mix it with some seltzer if it’s too sweet for them. There are also non-alcoholic wines that can be pretty convincing.

Make daiquiris using pureed frozen fruits, seltzer, and lime juice. If they miss the flavor of rum, use rum extract.

Skip the Sugar

When making mocktails for your mom and dad, pay attention to their dietary needs. If they are supposed to reduce their sugar intake due to diabetes, don’t use sugar syrup. Instead, use a sweetener like stevia drops and limit the amount used.

Use fresh fruits for sweetening drinks over sugar. The antioxidants are important. Pureed cherries add sweetness to a drink and count as one of their daily servings of fresh fruit.

Hire Elder Care to Keep Your Parents on Track

How well do your mom and dad do with their prescribed medicines? Do they take them on time or often forget a dose? If they do forget the dose, you can’t have them taking twice as much. If they skip some medications, it could impact their health. This is why elder care is one of the best things you can arrange.

Elder care aides stop by and remind your parents when to take their next dose. They have someone to track whether they’ve taken a pill or not. They won’t miss a dose or take too much because they don’t remember that they’ve already taken it. Call an elder care specialist to get started.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-12-aha-news-year-mocktail.html

National Mocktail Week Marks the Rise of Alcohol-Free Drinks

If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Scottsdale, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Diet Improvement for the Elderly: What Do You Need to Know?

Posted on by Craig Bass

Have you recently noticed that your elderly loved one doesn’t eat well? You may have visited their house last weekend and realized they don’t have much food in their fridge. When asking them about it, they may just say they don’t need to eat much. There are far too many elderly people who aren’t eating well or eating enough. The good thing is that there are some diet improvement tips that might be able to help your elderly loved one.

Weekly Meal Plans Aren’t Just a Fad

When thinking about weekly meal plans, your elderly loved one may just think that is something younger adults do when they want fancy meals. However, making weekly meals plans can be great for anyone. In addition, if you or an elder care provider help your elderly loved one to make these meal plans, it can ensure they eat better than they are eating now. For example, maybe your elderly loved one currently doesn’t eat breakfast. However, when having a weekly meal plan, you can add breakfast recipes to their meal plans.

Alternate Ingredients

Maybe, your elderly loved one doesn’t make new recipes because they don’t like a lot of foods. If this is the case, it shouldn’t deter them from eating healthy foods. There are most likely foods they can replace with the ingredients they don’t like. For example, if a recipe calls for them to put green peppers in it, maybe they could replace that with carrots. You or a home care provider can look up ingredient replacements for a specific food that your elderly loved one doesn’t like. Hopefully, by doing this, your elderly loved one will start eating better.

Reducing Sugar and Salt Intake

It is also important for everyone to limit their sugar and salt intake, especially elderly people. The risk of diabetes and heart disease can be extremely high when someone eats a lot of sugar and salt. The good news is there are plenty of tasty recipes that are low in sugar and salt. If needed, you or an elder care provider can help your elderly loved one find these recipes. Even if they don’t think they will like certain ones, it might be worth a try. There are also many snacks that are delicious, but still low in sugar and salt.

Conclusion

Does your elderly loved one need some help with improving their diet? If so, there are numerous tips that can help them to do this. Don’t forget that if your elderly loved one isn’t sure where to start or what to do, you or a home care provider can help with making their meal plans and finding recipes.

Sources
https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/eat-healthy/how-to-eat-healthy/index.html

If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Tempe, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Four Possible Consequences of Malnutrition for Seniors

Posted on by Craig Bass

If you suspect that your aging family member is malnourished, make sure to talk with her doctor to set up a plan to assess what nutrients she needs and how to best get them into her daily diet. Ignoring nutrition needs can seriously impact your senior’s health and may make it more difficult for her to meet her own goals as she ages.

Decreased Muscle Strength

As your senior ages, she is more likely to lose muscle tone and strength. If she’s not getting the nutrients that her body needs, that decrease in muscle strength is likely to occur much more quickly. Losing muscle strength can also mean that your elderly family member is not able to maintain mobility and that becomes a huge safety problem.

Increased Fall Risk

Another big problem with losing muscle tone is that it can increase your senior’s risk of falling. Other factors can contribute as well, though. Low blood sugar, low blood pressure, and more can all be contributing factors to increasing your senior’s fall risk. Falling even one time can have serious health consequences for your elderly family member for a very long time to come.

Weakened Immunity

Your senior’s immune system requires nutrients in order to maintain itself. To reduce the risk of illness, infection, and other health problems, your senior’s immune system need to be able to keep itself running. If you’re noticing that your elderly family member is frequently ill or is having a more difficult time healing in general, it might be due to poor nutrition.

Increased Likelihood of Hospitalization

Malnutrition can also increase the risk of your senior ending up hospitalized, either due to a fall or due to another health issue. Aging adults hospitalized may be more likely to become even weaker, lose more muscle tone, and suffer further attacks on their immune system. In short, that makes all of the other consequences even worse for your senior.

Keeping your senior well nourished is absolutely vital, but it can feel complicated. Working with senior home care providers can help, because they’re able to be there with your senior and help to monitor what and when she’s eating. If your senior needs physical help eating, elder care providers can offer that assistance. Even if all that your elderly family member needs is for senior home care providers to cook for her, that can go a long way toward improving her nutritional intake.

If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in Phoenix, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!

Reasons for Lack of Appetite in the Elderly

Posted on by Craig Bass

Has your elderly loved one been experiencing a lack of appetite? Maybe they say they aren’t hungry when you ask if they want to go out to eat. A home care provider would also notice that they aren’t eating as much as normal. This can pose a problem. However, before finding the solution to this issue, it is important to learn about the reasons for the lack of appetite in the elderly. Once you can find the reason, then, you can find a solution.

Mental Health Issues

There are many senior citizens who experience mental health issues. Some of the most common mental health issues for the elderly include depression, stress, grief, and anxiety. If your elderly loved one is feeling overwhelmed by mental health issues, this could be causing their lack of appetite.

If this is suspected, the first step is to talk with your elderly loved one. If you feel they aren’t going to be comfortable talking to you about these things, maybe they will talk to a home care provider. Once you can get to the bottom of their mental health issues, you can come up with a list of possible solutions. These might range from exercising, getting therapy, or having someone around more often. If the solutions work, it is likely that your elderly loved one’s appetite will return.

Medications

There are many different medications that have a lack of appetite listed as a side effect. If your elderly loved one is on new medications and they suddenly lost their appetite, this is likely the cause. If they have been on a certain medication for a while and didn’t experience this lack of appetite until now, this likely isn’t the cause. If you do suspect medications to cause moderate to severe lack of appetite for your elderly loved one, make sure they see their doctor about this. The doctor might be able to prescribe an alternative medication to help your elderly loved one get their appetite back.

Illnesses

There are also many illnesses that can cause a lack of appetite in the elderly. Some of the illnesses that can cause this issue include the flu, respiratory infections, appendicitis, and cancer. If you or a home care provider suspect that an illness is causing the lack of appetite for your elderly loved one, be sure to schedule them a doctor’s appointment right away. If your elderly loved one can’t or doesn’t want to eat at all, get them emergent medical attention.

Conclusion

There are many reasons for the lack of appetite in the elderly. If your elderly loved one doesn’t have much of an appetite, make sure to find the reason for this issue. Then, you can help them to find a solution. Home care providers can play a vital role in ensuring your senior receives proper nutrition.

Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4589891/#:~:text=The%20physiological%20changes%20that%20occur,can%20contribute%20to%20declining%20appetite

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring home care in Chandler, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!