We all know how difficult it can be to get motivated to cook healthy meals, especially during the winter. However, eating well is an important part of staying healthy and ensuring we can enjoy living life to the fullest. It helps keep our muscles and bones healthy, and our brains working well. Yet approximately 30% of people aged 60 or over, who live independently, are at risk of malnutrition.[1]
As we get older, we may require less calories to maintain a healthy weight, but we require more of certain foods such as protein.[3] Only one in 12 older Australians eats enough fruit and vegetables.[4] You may notice that your loved one is not eating well causing them to either put on, or lose weight, or maybe their blood tests are showing they are not getting enough nutrients in their diet. This may be because shopping and cooking for themselves is becoming too much. At Home Care Assistance, our Care Professionals are trained in helping the people they care for to eat well. We have out together this guide for those whose loved ones are living independently to help them eat well this winter.
Create a Meal Plan
Meal Plans can take the decision making out of what to eat. It also makes shopping easier. Plan out meals with your loved one in advance and then make sure the required ingredients are on the shopping list. Make sure the meals are interesting and something your loved one can make.
Help with Shopping
This can be taking your loved one out to go shopping (don’t forget your shopping list for your meal plan) or organising a home delivery of groceries. Having the right food in the house makes it easier to make healthy meals.
Cook with Your Loved One
Cooking with your loved one not only lightens their load, but you can be sure they have healthy food to eat. It can also give you precious time with your loved one doing something enjoyable. Make it a regular occurrence that you can both look forward to.
Drop Off Some Meals
While cooking with your loved one might be ideal, sometimes it just isn’t practical. However, if you are making dinner at home, why not make up some extra and drop it off to your loved one. This is particularly good if the meals can be frozen. Our top tip is to separate the meals into single portions before freezing, so they can easily be pulled out and heated up. Casseroles, spaghetti bolognaise, and soups are great for this.
Consider Extra Help
If you notice that your loved one is losing weight, or just does not appear to be eating well despite any help that you can provide, it might be time to engage some extra support. Aged care in the home can be tailored for the needs to the person and can include help with shopping and meal preparation. At Home Care Assistance, our Care Professionals often help with meal preparation for the people they care for. Meals can be tailored to the dietary requirements of the person, and of course consider what they do or do not like to eat.
Eating well is a cornerstone of staying healthy. If your loved one is struggling to eat well, there are things you can do to support them such as cooking with them or ordering in groceries. If that is not enough, there are professional home care services, such as those offered by Home Care Assistance, that can help your loved one.
Support of a home care agency like Home Care Assistance, can bring enormous benefit and comfort to your quality of life while living independently at home. Home Care Assistance has viable solutions when it comes to supporting independent living. For more information, get in touch with a Home Care Assistance near me today.
[1] https://www.cclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/EatingWellANutritionResourceforOlderPeople.pdf
[3] https://www.cclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/EatingWellANutritionResourceforOlderPeople.pdf
[4] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/health/behavioural-risk-factors
