If you are a family caregiver looking for ways to get your elderly loved one to eat, it can seem like an impossible challenge. The first thing you must consider is why your senior loved one is not eating.
Some seniors lose their taste and smell, making food seem so undesirable. Other times, it is because they can no longer cook for themselves like they used to and need help with preparing meals throughout the week. Simple chores like preparing meals can be done by home care providers, and it may encourage your loved one to eat more when it is already done for them. On the other hand, losing their sense of taste or smell can be frustrating for not only you but them as well. Here are some things to consider when preparing meals for your senior who has lost their sense of taste and smell.
Use Spices
This will require home care to experiment and for seniors to give their input. Ask your senior which spices they can smell the most and find a recipe that fits in or uses those spices. Sometimes, relying on other senses can help your seniors eat more. When they can smell something they do get a sense of what it would taste like and it can encourage them to eat more than they normally would. If they can taste but cannot smell, focus on spices that actually taste good.
Try Smoothies
Experimenting with different textures can be a good way to get your loved one to eat more, but also a good way to stick in nutrients. If you can’t encourage them to eat an apple or a kale salad, then blend it all up. Sometimes, swallowing can be an issue, so creating a juice or smoothie, which is a lot easier to swallow, can help get your loved one the nutrients their bodies need.
Eat Frozen Fruit
Texture has a big role to play in the foods we like. When your loved one can’t taste or smell it, it can leave you with limited options. Freezing fruit and snacking on them can leave a senior feeling refreshed. The texture may be something they look forward to and really like. A senior may also find that they can taste things better when frozen. When your loved one loses their sense of taste, you will need to be patient and encourage them to try many different things.
Go for Something Sour
If something doesn’t have bold flavors, it can be unappetizing. Finding bold flavors that do not lead to heartburn (like spicy food) will be a huge win for your seniors. Experiment with tart foods like blueberry tarts or sour foods like a salad with lemon zest. If your seniors can taste the pucker of these dishes, they may enjoy them a lot more, and it may encourage them to eat.
Use Salt
Most seniors need to watch their salt intake, but sometimes salt is needed, especially to avoid malnutrition. If your loved one loves something but can only taste it with salt, you should measure the salt for them but add it to the dish. Ask a doctor how much salt they can eat per day and try to stick to that if you can.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring home care in Simpsonville, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.
Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia, and the surrounding areas.
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