Here is a review of how assisted living homes can make mealtimes more manageable and healthier for the elderly with healthy menus and community. Here are some dietary guidelines for seniors in a memory care unit.
Healthy Diet
To boost your metabolism, put extra protein in your food. Seniors usually need more protein to compensate for muscle atrophy or build-up bone density and other metabolic procedures. Many seniors need about 1.0 to 1.5 grams of dietary protein per kg, whereas less mature adults require 0.8 g of protein per kg of mass.
Like protein-rich meals, you need to increase your intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, or fiber. Consuming whole foods may enable your body to absorb more nutrition with metabolization, as your body may gradually lose efficiency in absorbing nutrients. Nutrient-rich foods boost your body levels for more extended periods.
Have a Regular Snack and Meal Routine
Having an organized daily schedule and having meals at approximately the same period each day assists the body to be prepared to dine during those times. Don’t depend on your senior and their instincts of feeling hunger pangs before serving them meals, as this can become dull over time.
Serve Smaller Portions of High-Nutrient Foods
Some seniors might feel uneasy when they encounter large portions of food placed before them. Instead of serving huge portions, serve small portions. Or you could change to a regular practice in which seniors eat five smaller meals to replace three bigger ones.
Boost the Healthy Calories in Those Smaller Servings by Adding:
- Finely diced meat, cheese, and egg
- Avocado
- Olive oil
- Peanut or other nut-based butters
- Soft cheeses, including mascarpone or ricotta
For faster cooking. You may cook meals in bigger batches. Please keep it in distinct compact-sized containers, so it’s easier to serve and heat.
Remove The Need for Utensils
The challenges of being unable to utilize a fork, spoon, or knife might make some seniors not want to eat due to frustrations using those utensils. To enable them to eat without fuss, try serving meals that might get eaten without utensils or using adaptive utensils.
Some Suggestions:
- Chicken nuggets or bits
- Fish fingers
- Boiled or raw veggies, including broccoli, carrots, bell pepper strips, or cucumber pieces
- Meatballs
Keep Plenty of Easy-to-Eat Snacks On Hand
Several seniors might nibble over the day instead of eating full meals, which may be fine. Keep various delicious, healthy, and essential snacks accessible so they pick from healthy selections, such as:
- Cheddar sticks or cheese cubes
- Full-cream yogurt
- Sliced fruit, fresh or packed
- Peanut butter and toast
- Cheese and biscuits
- Full-cream cottage cheese
- Whole milk or banana milk
- Smoothies or Milkshakes
If chewing is complicated or challenging, even with tiny bits of food, consider serving softer or more fluid meals, listed below:
- Nutritious soups – seasoned with olive oil, cream, or pureed veggies or meats
- Organic smoothies – add fruit, bananas, full-cream yogurt, or veggies, including spinach or carrots
- Hot chocolate
- Full-cream milk
- Milkshakes – soft chilled ice cream works better than not eating
Necessary: This does not solve problems for those with dysphagia (swallowing issues).
Keep Track of Meals That Work Well
Write in diaries so you can keep records of your senior kin’s meals, like ingredients they don’t enjoy, which may be harder to eat or are slow to digest. You might track the specific times of day they’re more willing to eat and times they hold an improved appetite. Keeping records enables you to experiment with ingredients that work well and stop adding ingredients that aren’t.
