Happy Thanksgiving from Quality Family Care. Each year many families across the country and beyond are preparing themselves for turkey day dinner. Moms’ favorite recipe stuffing, gravy, cranberry surprise, broccoli casserole, candied yams, and a plethora of delicious desserts are just a few items on the menu! And every year, it’s the same family holiday that we all love and stress about. That is, of course, until uncle Mike falls asleep on the couch watching football and starts snoring. The main cause of holiday stress: an aging family member, who seems to no longer be that independent, lucid and completely capable individual that they have always been known to be.
You just might be one of the many of Americans this year who is more worried about preparing for Lita or Uncle Mike than you are about preparing your famous pie recipe, don’t stress; there are plenty of helpful tips out there to help you make the right choices. Quality Family Care has sorted through most of it and picked out what we think are the most helpful tips for preparing dinner this holiday!
Prepping Meals for the Elderly.
There are some things you should know about preparing meals for seniors. The first thing is that seniors do not metabolize food in the same way that they once did. And what’s more, their taste buds might not be as sensitive to flavors as in years past. Don’t be surprised or offended or upset then when your loved one doesn’t attack your casserole like he or she used to. In fact, you might want to think about preparing something special for your loved one, to cater to his or her changing dietary habits and needs.
Helpful Cooking Tips for the Holidays.
- Make food that is easy to chew and swallow. Dentures and reduced saliva production might make tough and dry foods difficult.
- Use less salt. You don’t want to cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure or worsen water retention. Remember, you can always salt the food on your own plate later.
- Add more seasoning. To make up for the lower salt, aging taste buds and the dulling affect of some prescription medications, use savory, but not spicy, seasonings to provide more flavor.
- Use recipes rich with nutrition. Seniors need to eat food that is high in nutritional content and calories to make up for their often reduced appetites. www.nutritiondata.com is a good source for information on the nutritional and caloric content of food. Check AARPs recipe site for great Thanksgiving recipes for seniors.
Ask questions. Take a moment to ask your loved one what they enjoy eating these days. If they always loved a particular dish, ask them if they still do. Ask them if there is anything they don’t like.
Keeping a Watchful Eye on Your Loved Ones.
The holidays are a great time to spend with your loved ones, and you get a close up on gauging their health and happiness. Utilize these close moments to keep an eye out for signs of dementia, alzheimer’s, and any other concerns you may have. Eventually you may need in home health care or assistance, and Quality Family Care is here to help. If you are in need of in-home assistance take a quick look at our caregiving assessment checklist to help guide you regardless if you contact us directly or now. Our experts are standing by ready to help answer any questions or concerns you may have. Call Quality Family Care toll-free anytime at 877-513-7156.
