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March is celebrated as National Nutrition Month, a period dedicated to emphasizing the importance of healthy eating and making nutritious food choices. For those caring for elderly family members, providing meals that are both nutritionally balanced and tailored to meet the unique dietary requirements of seniors is of utmost importance. As we observe this significant month, let’s explore healthy habits and senior-friendly recipes designed to not only provide essential nourishment but also to please the palates of our older loved ones.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes increasingly important as we age. For seniors and their caregivers, adopting healthy habits can significantly enhance quality of life and overall well-being. Here are some practical tips to help seniors start on the path to healthier living:
Taking time each week to plan meals that cover all five food groups is essential. This not only ensures your loved one enjoys a nutritionally balanced diet but also makes grocery shopping more straightforward, as your meal plan doubles as an effective shopping list.
While shopping for groceries, pay close attention to the Nutrition Facts labels on food packaging. This step is key in choosing products that are higher in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber but lower in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars, meeting the specific nutritional needs of seniors.
When dining out or ordering food, look for calorie information on menus. This can help you make healthier choices for your senior, enabling you to manage their calorie intake effectively, which is critical for maintaining their overall health.
Monitoring how much and what your senior eats is vital in maintaining their health. Use the Nutrition Facts label as a guide to control portion sizes and calorie intake, ensuring they receive the nutrients they need without unnecessary excesses.
Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day, and for a good reason. It sets the tone for energy levels and nutritional intake. For seniors, starting the day with a meal that’s both nutritious and easy to eat can help maintain energy levels, support cognitive function, and promote heart health. Our breakfast ideas focus on combining simple, wholesome ingredients like whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to create meals that are both satisfying and senior-friendly.
Lunch offers an excellent opportunity to incorporate a variety of nutrients into a senior’s diet, helping to sustain energy throughout the afternoon. Our lunch recipes are designed to be both light and nourishing, providing a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, along with essential vitamins and minerals. These meals are not only easy to prepare but also gentle on the digestive system, making them perfect for a midday boost.
Dinner is a time for relaxation and enjoyment, a moment to savor flavors and unwind. For seniors, it’s also an opportunity to ensure they’re receiving all the necessary nutrients to support their health through the night. Our dinner ideas focus on easy-to-digest foods that are rich in nutrients necessary for muscle maintenance, bone health, and good sleep. These comforting and wholesome recipes are designed to be the perfect end to the day, providing both nutrition and pleasure in every bite.
Keeping hunger at bay between meals is crucial for maintaining energy levels and preventing overeating at meal times. Here are a couple of nutritious snack ideas for seniors, focusing on nutrition, ease of eating, and taste:
Nutritional drinks can play a crucial role in the diet of seniors, especially for those who may find it challenging to meet their nutritional needs through solid foods alone. These beverages are designed to provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, protein, and other nutrients essential for maintaining health and vitality in older adults. Here’s a closer look at how nutritional drinks can benefit seniors and some options to consider incorporating into their daily regimen.
Celebrating National Nutrition Month by preparing senior-friendly recipes is a wonderful way to show love and care for the elderly in our lives. These recipes not only meet their nutritional needs but also provide the comfort and joy that come from a delicious meal. As family caregivers, our role in nurturing through nutrition is a testament to our dedication and affection for our elderly loved ones. Let’s make this month a memorable one by exploring new recipes and creating healthy, tasty meals together.
Marita Ellers* was lucky. Her parents lived three blocks away in Greater Detroit. She enjoyed a close relationship with them and could tend to their needs as they continued to age, which was well into their 90s. They both passed away when Marita entered her 60s as she helped with their hospice care needs. But having never married, and with only a chronically ill brother and sister-in-law living in Seattle, reality set in when Marita needed major surgery which would incapacitate her for weeks or possibly months.Unlike her parents who had her to depend on, Marita had no one. Of course there was her circle of friends, but as it turned out most were married. Shed never thought about cultivating relationships with single people; it had just never occurred to her. Her married friends had busy lives of their own with spouses, adult children, and grandchildren, and the last thing Marita wanted to do was impose on them during a long recuperation.Ellers is part of a growing trend of elder orphans and solo agers: individuals ages 55-plus who live alone without a spouse, partner, children, or other family around at all, or if they are around, they cannot be relied upon sometimes due to family dynamics. In short, these individuals have no real support networkno safety net. In a survey of 500 elder orphans, nearly 70 percent hadnt identified someone to help them with health problems, while 35 percent had no friends or family to begin with who could help.Studies show the demographics numbers are on the rise and the group is so ubiquitous, it even has its own Facebook page with nearly 10,000 members to provide support through shared experiences. If you fall into this category, what are some of the steps you can take to prepare for successful aging?Planning to Live as a Solo AgerThe best kind of plan for almost anything is, naturally, to plan. If we dont do that, we may leave critical decisions to disconnected relatives, acquaintances, or ultimately overburdened, court-appointed strangers who have no idea what we need and want. Considering herself staunchly independent, Maritas lack of planning was twofold: she was in denial about her own aging process, and at the same time she figured the experience of seeing her parents through lifes end stages would enable her to apply all that knowledge to herself if the time came.While in some respects her experience puts her a step ahead of many of her contemporaries, her reasoning does not allow for what can happen when her mobility is compromised, cognitive capacity is diminished, or myriad other conditions where she may need more help than she can give to herself. Maritas upcoming surgery was a wake-up call, making her acutely aware of what steps she should have taken and scrambling to put as many as possible in place.Understand the Levels Between Senior Independence and Assisted LivingYesface things and research them, laying them out as early and comprehensively as you can. Avoidance will only get you so far. The antidote for anxiety, feeling isolated, and depressionthree issues elder orphans and solo agers have expressed are problems for themis action. Goethe said, Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid. Keren Brown Wilson, known as the pioneer of assisted living, says there are many steps and levels between independence and dependence. She recommends interdependence: a mutual reliance on one another on the path to better aging.Think about trained caregivers for when you may need help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and a fiduciary or senior care advisor for your financial needs including Long-Term Care insurance. Go out and cultivate friendships if you dont already have them with other elder orphans or solo agers. People in similar situations may have more time to give you if the need arises, as you can give to them.Build a Senior Support Network That WorksIf you dont know how to go about something, network with people in your community. This may include professionals and others you know at work, where you volunteer, doctors, dentists, lawyers, librarians, teachers, salon and store owners, as well as neighbors. We all age and ahead of that most of us have aging parents or had parents who got up in years. That kind of personal experience is invaluable in terms of recommending others they trust who can help you put things in order now and down the line.Communities for Successful AgingGet Involved!With the rising tide of graying Baby Boomers, city and business leaders and policymakers need to embrace the task of developing solutions for better aging. This needs to be done on a nationwide basis. Elder orphans and solo agers are affected at even deeper levels than their counterparts who are surrounded by family and friends in a position to help. In some locations, there are more resources already in place in the realm of affordable transportation, technology training, respite care, senior advocacy, nutrition oversight, and home health care. But we have a long way to go.If you are an elder orphan or solo ager looking for involvement in your own community, turning your attention to the cause can bring awareness and even expedite results from which everyone can benefit.(* Name has been changed for purposes of anonymity.)
Bring up the topic of decluttering in a conversation with older adults and youll get a variety of responses. For some, getting rid of things is easy; they may even respond with something like I love throwing things away! On the other hand, you have people who cant seem to throw anything away. You can actually see them shift into a state of panic at the thought of discarding their belongings. The majority fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, being able to confidently identify what is clearly trash, yet feeling certain about items theyre compelled to keep.Why Is It So Hard to Let Go?Clutter is common in the lives of so many. There is only one factor that makes the clutter of an older adult unique: time. The older you are, the longer youve had to accumulate things. As time passes, you attach meaning to those things which provoke certain emotions and these feelings may develop into a physical form of nostalgia. Many items can impact us emotionally, something renowned organizing and decluttering expert Marie Kondo calls objects that speak to the heart. These evoke a flood of memories and sentiment, something that provides even more significance and comfort as we age.Though it may be hard to discard possessions, holding onto too muchespecially as a senior with increasing needs for a safe environmentcan have dangerous results. What we accumulate can present challenges throughout the living environment. Clutter resulting from stacks of mail, paperwork, packages, books, magazines, holiday dcor, knickknacks, mementos, and more on and around surfaces and furniture can also contribute to feelings of confusion and overwhelm, increasing cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. Studies show clutter can also contribute to increasing dissatisfaction with life. Overall, these issues are something an older adultpossibly with increasing cognitive issuesneeds less, not more, of.Risks of Clutter and Life-Threatening InjuriesStatistics tell us that each year, 36 million Americans, or one in four adults over age 65, experience a fall. That number climbs every five years. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for people over age 65.Increased risk of fallingWhile some falls are caused by physical decline, including balance and mobility issues, clutter in ones surroundings can raise the odds of an accident no matter what the seniors condition. It can present hazards to navigate, resulting in tripping and breaking a leg, arm, hip, neck, ribs, requiring stitches, sustaining head trauma, or suffering internal injuries.Confusion over medicationsCluttered medicine cabinets can be life-threatening for seniors. Decluttering your medicine cabinet is critical, especially for those with decreased vision. If a medicine cabinet is disorganized, it can be easy to confuse medicines ones life is dependent on. Throw away expired medications and keep them organized to reduce confusion.Limited mobilityExcess furniture can lead to many challenges for seniors with limited mobility. Not only can they have more trouble getting around on a daily basis, but this trouble can be serious if disaster strikes and they cant get through certain spaces.If doorways are blocked, or even partially blocked, first responders may have trouble entering the premises or getting into specific rooms. Also, if caregivers are working in the home, its especially important that they have a safe, adequate berth in which to maneuver and support the client. With challenges mounting as seniors age, the last thing a caregiver needs to worry about is steering a client around piles of personal belongings or oversized furniture too big for a space, or pieces of furniture placed too close together, or improperly stored equipment including walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, shower chairs, and more.Health Benefits of DeclutteringThe benefits of having an organized space extend far beyond general safety conditions. Mental health experts and geriatric social workers concur that aging seniors with less clutter in their everyday lives enjoy many health benefits.Improved concentrationOne of the most noticeable differences you may experience after you declutter your living area is an improvement in your ability to concentrate. Although you may not realize it, the items in your space are constantly competing for your attention. When you are in a cluttered environment, you are essentially forcing your brain to multitask by giving it extra stimuli to filter through as you try to focus on your task at hand. As soon as you declutter your space, you will likely notice an immediate boost in your productivity.Better sleepMany older adults experience a surge in sleep disturbances as they age.Another great reason for seniors to declutter their space is that it can positively impact the quantity and quality of their sleep. You are probably familiar with the feeling you have when you get into your bed after you just cleaned your room. You feel noticeably more relaxed and ready for bed than the previous days.Interestingly enough, those with more clutter have been shown to have more difficulty not only falling asleep but also staying asleep. Those with clutter often have more sleep disturbances.Reduced stressAnother good reason to get rid of your clutter is to reduce your overall level of stress. Many studies have shown a negative correlation between those who keep their homes clutter-free and those who reside in well-organized homes. There are many reasons for this.As mentioned, having many items in your space places additional work on your brain as you force it to constantly work at filtering out irrelevant information so you can focus on whats important.There has been a study conducted that identified a relationship between homeowners and their density of household objects. They found that the higher the density of household objects, the higher their levels of cortisol tested thus indicating higher stress levels.Improved positivityWalking into a room where there is a lot of clutter can do more than add to your stress, it can also cause you to feel like you dont have your life together.If you think about it, looking at a pile of papers can easily remind you of all the things you havent completed yet, directing your attention away from everything you have accomplished. You know the phrase, out of sight out of mind. Well, that is certainly the case with a pile of papers, along with all other clutter.Using The Four Box Method for DeclutteringOne of the simplest strategies for decluttering your home is one referred to as the four box method. This method works great because it forces you to make decisions about everything you own.To use this method, you are simply going to take four boxes (trash bags can work too) and label them as one of the following.Keep/put awayDonate/sellTossStorageOne room at a time, you will use these boxes to help you categorize your belongings.For example, lets say you have made the decision to organize your home. And lets say you decided to start in your living room. You figure this is not only where you spend most of your waking hours, but it is also where you entertain your guests.When you are ready to begin, you will bring your four labeled boxes into the living room. You will then go through each item in the room and make a decision as to whether you need to keep it, donate it, throw it away, or store it.The Keep/Put Away BoxThe keep/put away box is designated for items you want to keep. Ideally, this should be the smallest box. If the item you want to keep belongs in the room you are working with, you are going immediately put it away. If the item you want to keep belongs in another room, you are going to place it in the box. This is going to help ensure you have enough space for all the items you want to keep.For example, there might be piles of magazines and miscellaneous papers on the table in your living room. In this case, you might want to sort through the pile. You may decide to keep the current magazines on the table and place the important papers in the keep box to be filed away. Any papers deemed unimportant can be placed in the trash box.The Donate/Sell BoxThe donate/sell box is going to be designated for items you want to donate or sell. These items should be in good condition. Ideally, they should be items you no longer find valuable but that may be valuable for someone else.You might have furniture in your living room taking up space. You might want to consider selling or donating it. You can even give it to someone in your family who would make better use of it.Also, take a look at unnecessary knick-knacks.The Toss BoxThe toss box is for items you decide to throw away. This should be anything you dont want any more that is unworthy of selling or donating. Think about damaged items or broken items you intended to fix but never got around to.The Storage BoxRefrain from thinking of storage as a place for items you dont know what to do with, but think of it as items you dont currently need.Seasonal items are a great example. Think about seasonal decor or holiday-specific decorations. These are items you dont need out at all times, only during the particular season or holiday time. Place the out of season items in the storage box.Clothing may be another item you may want to store. If you live in a seasonal area, you will have little to no use for a winter coat in the summer. This would be something you want to keep for the cooler months, but you dont need to have it handy in the summer. Place it in your seasonal box.Its Okay to Ask for HelpAt the end of the day, decluttering should be about letting go of the things you have weighing you down for the benefit of your quality of life. Mental health experts confirm, explaining that the process can result in feelings of accomplishment and control for seniors who are aging at home. In short, decluttering has a positive impact on so many levels.Frequently, the most difficult step is simply to start and that being the case, its okay to ask for help. Check with your county aging services department or community senior resource center on the availability of decluttering services. If youd like to learn more about how a trained caregiver can support a senior loved one to live safely at home, feel free to contact one of our friendly and resourceful Amada Senior Care advisors. Click here to find an Amada Senior Care location near you.
Until 100 years ago, many people never traveled more than 10 miles from the home in which they were born or lived in when they got married, which was usually down the street or the next farm over. Families remained grouped together for many reasons, including having emigrated from a foreign country and starting a new life together. There was strength in numbers: both economic advantages and in perpetuating long-held traditions that would tie loved ones together in the face of new challenges. Where seniors were concerned, the expectation that younger family members would always care for them was impliedand something not all that difficult if people were living within steps of one another.Clearly things have changed, and adult children can be hundreds and thousands of miles away from aging parents. This can make it challenging to determine changes in physical, mental and emotional health, often leading to stress and guilt. While long-distance caregiving isnt always the answer, there are things families can do to help ensure their senior loved ones needs are monitored and met.1 Hold a Family Meeting to Plan In-Home Care for a Senior Loved OneFirst, organizationally, if there are multiple adult children and other family members that can provide long-distance care, have a family meetingin person or video chatto decide what everyones strengths and skillsets are and what their availability is. Tantamount to that, realistically evaluate how much each can do, knowing that a trusted neighbor or someone else outside the family and local to the senior may need to be hired to fill in any gaps.If a family member is better at managing finances, for example, s/he should assume that responsibility when the time comes, always with written permission. A Merrill Lynch study revealed about 92 percent of family caregivers are managing their loved ones finances, including monitoring and paying bills from bank accounts, handling insurance claims, filing taxes, and overseeing investments.2 Communicate with Your Aging Loved One Every DayIts important to check in with an aging parent every day, even several times a day depending on the state of health, particularly if that individual lives alone. If the senior is adept at technology, FaceTime or other forms of video chat are always preferable as visuals are a useful tool in gauging changes. Today there are a variety of simpler forms of senior-friendly video call apps and devices available. These include but are not limited to the Jitterbug Smart3, GrandPad, and CallGenie (British-based product now available in the U.S.).3 Connect Regularly with Your Beloved Seniors Healthcare ProvidersSchedule regular calls with physicians, visiting nurses, and/or others for up-to-date information about you loved ones health and evolving needs. If an in-home senior care agency is involved, consistent updates should be part of the protocol.4 Set Up a Personal Emergency Response System to Maintain a Seniors IndependenceSometimes dubbed high-tech guardian angels, personal emergency response systems (PERS) support safe and independent living. At the touch of a button (or in some cases by voice activation) an immediate notification is sent to first responders when a fall or other medical emergency is detected. PERS devices can be worn by the senior as a pendant, or a unit can be set up strategically inside the home to provide 24/7 monitoring services.5 Obtain a Smart Pill Dispenser for Medication ManagementAs people age, memory can be affected with issues that include failure to take medication or not recalling if a dose was taken or not. Multiple medications are also a byproduct of aging and facing an array of bottles every day can be confusing and disorienting for seniors. A user-friendly solution lies in medication management with automatic pill dispensers, as these smart devices for healthcare can do so much more than hold apportioned pills in a little plastic box. Smart pill devices organize medications and ensure the correct dose is dispensed at the right time, and some can also notify the caregiver if a dose is missed.6 Explore Alternative Senior Living ArrangementsIs an aging parent amenable to moving closer to adult children? Independent living and assisted living fall under the broad banner of senior living communities and can make the stress that accompanies long-distance caregiving a thing of the past. Many seniors and their families are unsure where to start their search for assisted living and other senior housing options.7 Plan More Frequent Visits to Keep Tabs on Your Elderly Loved Ones WelfareWork, raising families, community responsibilities, and everything else can make life overwhelming today. But if a parent or grandparent is aging, theres no better way to monitor needs than to visit as often as possibleeven for a long weekend now and then. If there are multiple adult siblings or young adult grandchildren, spreading the visits out among family members can ease the burden of constant traveling and help ensure changes in health and mobility do not go undetected.Besides, the opportunity to spend time with mom or dad in their sunset years is precious, and something you will never have again. In your effort to monitor things and provide support, which no one argues can be time consuming and stressful, make sure to slow down and listen. As the saying goes, When a senior dies, a library closes.8 Ask for Information and Guidance from a Trusted Senior ResourceKnow that an Amada Senior Care advisor has the expertise and knowledge to assist without obligation as families with aging loves ones navigate their senior care journey. Click HERE to find an Amada office near you or call (866) 752-1961.
Hello, I am Jennifer Thayer. Exploring senior living options can be confusing and timeconsuming. Assisted Living Locators Care Advisors are in your community and work closely with you to guide you through the process from beginning to endanswering your questions and addressing your concerns, helping you feel confident and comfortable with your decisions. As a native of Pittsburgh with expertise in nursing as well as senior living options, I will provide a hands-on approach that is unique to your needs. I will guide you & your family through the entire complex, time consuming, and sometimes overwhelming process of senior care. We will discuss your needs, visit communities together, and I answer all of your questions about care options and cost. Beyond move-in day at your community, I will continue to visit and advocate for your well-being. I will make sure your community is meeting all of your needs & providing you with excellent care. I have been a Registered Nurse for 15 years, providing care, guidance and compassion for people in the Pittsburgh area as well as nationally. In addition to my nursing degree, I also have a bachelors degree in Psychology. My Psychology degree combined with my work/volunteer experience in the field as equipped me to deal with the diverse mental and emotional needs of others. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. Our seniors are overlooked too often and this is why I have been inspired to pay it forward and to assist seniors with their next chapter in life. You and your family will have a personal Senior Care Advisor free of charge assisting you through the entire process. As a Registered Nurse I have a network of reputable, trusted communities and providers throughout the Pittsburgh area that share one common goal: providing excellent care while showing compassion. I will listen to you and address your concerns and needs. I will make sure care options and cost are appropriate. I will be available to you and your family every step of the way even after you are settled into your new home. You never need to worry about getting a one size fits all solution. Instead, you can rest assured that the communities and homes we recommend have been pre-screened and personally matched to your loved ones needs.Unbiased solutions at no cost to you.My only obligation is to you and making sure that we help you find the best solution for your needs. You can depend on me to make finding care as simple and quick as possible.I am ready to help you:- Simplify your search- Understand the options- Compare costs and services- Provide unbiased, personal, and expert guidance- Make the best senior care choice for your loved oneOur Free Senior Living Services:Our care advisors take a 4-step approach to guiding you through the process of finding the best senior living option for your family.In-Depth Assessment of Your NeedsDiscuss your needs (in-person or by phone) to learn how we can best serve you.Thoughtful Analysis & RecommendationsProvide a customized plan to match your particular needs.Assistance with Selection ProcessHands-on help and guidance as you review services and amenities, and tour care options.Transition SupportCaring support to make the move smooth and worry free, as well as follow up support to make sure that your expectations are being met by the community or home.What to Expect When You Call UsWe want to learn as much as we can We dig deep with you to really understand what your family needs both for a new living situation and for other support services.Our Individualized AssessmentAn Assisted Living Locators care advisor will meet with you and your family to discuss available and appropriate options. We evaluate all aspects of your senior situation to find the right match, whether its health care needs, religious and political affiliations, mobility requirements, budgets, desired social activities, locations, or the 1001 ways that make your senior unique.We Are Your Comprehensive GuideWe are committed to being compassionate and concerned with the needs of our clients. We are your comprehensive guide to matching the care you desire with the living options in your community. The facilities in our network reimburse for our services so that we can remain at no cost to you.Finding the Care that is Right for Your FamilyWhen we evaluate a senior living facility, we examine not only the amenities, but also the special features and characteristics. After we verify the services you need are met by the community, we consider the unique aspects that will make the difference in selecting a home best suited for your loved one.Im here, ready to help. Give me a call today!