4 Healthy Nutrition Habits for Seniors
- By Horizon Health Services
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- 02 Apr, 2018
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As your senior parents continue to age, their nutrition habits are more important than ever.
Here are four ways to help the senior in your life achieve a more nutritious diet:
1. Use Proper Portions
Having portions that are too large is a common issue in the US, but many seniors also don’t eat large enough portions. To ensure that your senior is getting all their necessary nutrients without going overboard, review their daily diet and help make changes that will keep their portions on track. Base portioning on a slightly lower calorie count than the 2,000 calorie-estimate for young adults. Visit this website for a resource to learn more about how to tailor your senior’s portioning needs.
2. Track Nutrients
Seniors need essential nutrients that give them an extra boost of energy and protect them from disease and illness. Generally, the best way to ensure that your senior is receiving all their necessary nutrients is to look at the colors on their plate. If their plate looks like a colorful rainbow, they likely are eating foods with an array of nutrients. If you do think your senior is missing out on certain nutrients, talk with their doctor about how to fill the gap. The answer may be introducing new foods to their diet or adding supplements.
3. Keep a Balanced Diet
Variety is the spice of life; make sure that your senior’s plate reflects that mantra. Your senior needs a variety of foods in their diet to get all the necessary nutrients. The fortunate news is that there are simple resources to assist in balancing your senior’s diet. MyPlate is a website created by the US Department of Agriculture that gives guidelines to determine how to create a balanced diet. It also explains what portion makes up a serving for each food group. Using this tool will help ensure that your senior is on a healthy diet track.
There is one ingredient that is commonly left out of the nutrition pyramid. Fortunately for us, it comes straight from the tap. Water is an essential part of any healthy diet, especially for seniors. Without enough water, your senior is risking joint issues, dehydration, and even slight memory troubles. Make sure your senior is getting the proper 6-8 glasses of water a day.
Making slight diet changes now will improve the long-term health of your senior down the road. But it’s not only diet: activity, exercise, and mental stimulation are also key portions of any senior’s overall health and well-being. Consider all these factors as you promote a healthy lifestyle for your senior.
Please contact us with any specific questions you have. We are happy to help serve you and your senior.
It is important to us at Horizon Health that we highlight our dedicated employees and help you learn more about the people who make our services great. In this edition of employee spotlight, you will meet Angie Athman, a licensed social worker for our hospice care, and Kelsey Benson, the care coordinator with Horizon Health.
All About Angie
With 12 years as a social worker under her belt, the last 6 of which have been spent working in hospice at Horizon Health, Angie Athman is a valued employee. Nevertheless, she is humble about her position. Angie says her favorite part of her job is the peace it brings her. She says working to serve the aging population is an honor and brings into perspective how precious life really is. While she does think working with end of life patients can be hard, Angie says she is grateful for Horizon’s supportive workplace where her coworkers are like family and the inspirational stories she hears from her elderly patients. When asked if there is anything she feels needs to be known about her position, Angie says that besides her job duties, she runs two caregiver support groups and provides community support to those nearing a hospice situation with a loved one. Angie invites anyone who could use her help to reach out to Horizon Health Hospice at 320-468-2788.
Keeping Up With Kelsey
Also a licensed social worker, our care coordinator Kelsey has done a fabulous job since starting at Horizon Health. Kelsey previously worked in a nursing home and enjoyed serving the elderly population. This led her to pursue social work at Horizon Health. She says her favorite part of her job is connecting families to resources they might not have otherwise had that make their lives easier. The rewarding part is making connections and helping people with compassion and a helpful heart. Kelsey says she really knows her elderly patients on a personal level and values building those relationships!
These two wonderful women make our hospice care more empathetic, more effective, and more supportive for our patients and their families. We are proud to shine a spotlight on Angie and Kelsey!
