Eating the right combination of foods can be a huge step forward in improving both health and quality of life for aging adults. The problem is that it can be so difficult for seniors to do all of that on their own. Luckily, the dietary counseling available at adult day health care centers can educate seniors and offer them the help they need to counteract some of the biggest nutrition challenges they battle.
Appetite Changes
As seniors age, they may find that their appetites change quite a bit. They may be less active than they were in the past or they may have health issues that cause them to experience appetite shifts. Reduced senses of taste and smell can also factor into these changes. Dietary counseling can help to identify reasons behind these changes so seniors can put solutions into place.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Changes in appetite and eating habits, even choosing foods that are less nutritionally dense, can lead to deficiencies in some nutrients. Seniors might not be eating enough or as often as they should, too. That can lead to problems with vitamin and mineral loss or not eating the right mix of macronutrients like protein. Adult day health care practitioners look at all of these variables and help seniors figure out how to get back into nutritional balance.
Trouble Chewing and Swallowing
Dental issues, dry mouth, and other issues that make chewing and swallowing difficult for seniors can present some real problems nutritionally and in other ways. Solutions like texture-modified diets, like minced or pureed diets, offer the right mix of nutrients while being easier to eat. Speech therapists are often also available at adult day health care centers and they can work with patients to improve their ability to swallow foods and beverages.
Chronic Health Conditions
So many chronic health conditions require seniors to pay closer attention to their diets. Seniors may need to pay close attention to issues like salt intake, blood sugar levels, and more. Skipping these details could lead to worsening health issues, which is definitely not ideal. Dietary counseling helps seniors to understand how a tailored nutrition plan can help them to experience better health outcomes.
Eating Alone
When seniors live alone, they often spend too much time on their own. That can make meals more difficult because it’s lonely to eat alone. At adult day health care centers, meals and snacks are a communal event and seniors can eat around other people, improving their nutritional issues while also improving their socialization issues. At home, seniors are less likely to feel isolated because they’re able to spend time around other people regularly.
Trouble Cooking
Cooking can be difficult for seniors for so many reasons. Budgetary restrictions often affect dietary intake and cooking also requires so much time and energy. At adult day health care centers, dietary counseling takes all of this into account. Seniors have access to meals and snacks during the day and prepare fewer meals on their own.
Proper nutrition makes a world of difference for aging adults, but understanding what nutritional changes need to be made can be confusing. Dietary counseling through adult day health care centers removes the confusion and gets seniors the answers they need to make helpful changes.
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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