A mother’s love for her kids knows no age limitations. And most parents want above all else to shield their children from problems, which at times can mean masking their own problems. In addition to that, when loved ones live far away, it can be challenging to know for sure if a senior parent is masking health issues.
One of the leading challenges of aging is the decline in good nutrition for seniors. If you think your older loved ones may not be getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy and well, this quick evaluation can help uncover possible red flags:
- Has the older person mentioned a loss of appetite, concerns with digesting food, or chewing or swallowing difficulties? Has there been a decrease in food ingestion over the past few months because of this?
- Has the senior had a weight loss over the last several months? Losing weight, especially for those with a more sedentary lifestyle, can indicate that the person is not eating properly.
- Does the individual have a problem with mobility? Being restricted to the home can result in nutritional challenges, as it is more difficult to get groceries or fix meals.
- Has the older person been under psychological stress or experienced an acute disease in the past several months?
- What is your senior loved one’s body mass index (BMI)? A BMI of 18.5 or lower may signify that the person is not eating enough, while a BMI of 30 or higher can signify obesity.
If you find through answering these questions that a loved one may be experiencing problems with nutrition for seniors, it’s a good idea to consult with his or her primary care physician. Compassionate Care Home Health can also help improve health and wellbeing for older adults through services like:
- Preparing meals
- Transportation to doctor appointments
- Light household chores
- Personal care assistance
- Running errands
- Medication reminders
- A full range of skilled nursing care
- And many others
As the leading providers of in home care in Saginaw, MI and surrounding areas, our caregivers are friendly, background checked and available for as much or as little care as required. You can reach us online or call our care team at 877.308.1212 to learn more. See our full service area here.