Nutritional needs change for seniors based on a variety of factors, including health conditions they might experience. Keeping up with those dietary needs and changes can be challenging for seniors and family caregivers, but there are solutions that help. Adult day health care centers offer dietary counseling that enables seniors to learn more about what they can eat to help them feel their best.
Heart Disease
Cardiovascular health covers a lot of ground for seniors. Heart disease, high blood pressure, and other heart related ailments may benefit from similar dietary changes. Many healthcare providers recommend reducing salt intake and eating more whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Lean proteins and more whole grains are also helpful for heart health. Increasing heart-healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids is also a good plan.
Diabetes
One very serious health issue many seniors face is diabetes, which affects how their bodies process glucose. Seniors who have diabetes need to follow a diet that helps them keep their blood sugar levels regulated. Dietary counseling for diabetic seniors includes information about eating higher fiber foods, lead proteins, and healthy fats in the right balance.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and become more brittle. Supporting bone health typically requires seniors to eat more calcium-rich foods, like leafy greens and dairy products or fortified plant-based milks. Increasing vitamin D intake can also help quite a bit. Adult day health care centers offer counseling that helps seniors to increase key nutrients and plan meals that help them improve their overall well-being.
Chronic Kidney Disease
For seniors who have chronic kidney disease, managing protein and fluid intake is a crucial part of helping the kidneys avoid becoming too strained. Kidney disease affects how well the kidneys can process certain nutrients. Managing fluids properly helps to reduce fluid buildup, which can lead to complications like difficulty breathing.
Dementia
Dementia and related conditions like Alzheimer’s disease can cause problems like lack of appetite, trouble eating, and forgetting to eat at all. All of this can mean that seniors with dementia aren’t getting the calories or the nutrients they need. Making changes like adjusting food textures, increasing hydration, and offering more frequent meals and snacks can help.
Digestive Disorders
Seniors may also have trouble with a variety of different digestive disorders. Acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, and other digestive problems may also need a special diet to improve digestion and keep symptoms in check. Adjusting fiber intake and avoiding trigger foods, like acidic foods or spicy foods, are just two of the changes seniors might find helpful. Dietary counseling can help seniors to further narrow down changes that can help.
Seniors who live with chronic health issues need a lot of different types of help to keep their health issues under better control. Dietary counseling at adult day health care centers plays a crucial role in helping seniors find the solutions they need to feel and be healthier. Experienced professionals build on doctor’s recommendations to develop eating plans for seniors that greatly improve their quality of life.
Oxnard Family Circle ADHC: Safe, Reliable, Social and Fun!
If you needed respite and/or help with caring for your loved one in any corner of Ventura County, CA (Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Camarillo, etc.), talk to the caring staff at Oxnard Family Circle ADHC today. 1-805-385-4180
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