Your elderly family member may go through periods when she doesn’t want to eat much, if anything at all. That might not be such a big deal, except your senior can lose nutrients quickly when she’s not eating a healthy diet as consistently as she should be.
Talk with Her Doctor
The first step needs to be mentioning what is going on to your senior’s doctor. Her doctor may want to run some tests and see what else might be happening. This is particularly urgent if your senior has health issues that are aggravated by your senior not eating or not getting the right nutrition. Her doctor can help you to determine what the next best steps are and whether your senior is in need of additional means of nutrition.
Make the Most of What She Will Eat
Are there things that your senior will always eat, no matter what? If so, look at the nutritional content of those foods. If there’s anything that you can add or adjust to keep that food tasty for your senior but boost the nutrition, then do it. Make that food available to her as often as possible, especially if you’ve been able to adjust the recipe for maximum nutrition.
Keep a Variety of Healthy Snacks Ready to Go
Don’t just think meals when your senior’s appetite is off, though. Snacks can be a great way to encourage your senior to eat a little more during the day than she might have if she only ate meals. As with meals, though, you want to go with the healthiest options possible that your senior will eat. Try to be as creative as possible while also ensuring you’re prioritizing health and nutrition.
Consider Supplements, if Necessary
It’s possible that your senior simply needs nutritional supplementation at this time. Talk to her doctor about the right way for your senior to get all of the vitamins and minerals that she needs. That might mean taking a boosted multivitamin, drinking some nutritional shakes, or even getting shots in her doctor’s office.
This isn’t an easy problem to manage, especially when you’re managing other health issues for your senior. Having the help of elderly care providers to keep your senior eating the right foods can take a huge weight off your shoulders. Just that little bit of assistance can make a world of difference for you and for your elderly family member.
If you or an aging loved one needs Elderly Care in Carmichael, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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