Home Care Services Nassau County NY
Caring for an elderly adult poses a wide variety of challenges for your elderly loved one and for you as their family caregiver. It is important that you not only recognize these challenges, but equip yourself with coping tools to help you address these issues effectively to give your senior the safe, healthy, and comfortable lifestyle that they desire and deserve.
Mealtime issues are particularly common among elderly adults suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. They might not get the nutrition that they need, may resist eating certain foods, or may struggle with swallowing. Fortunately there are tools that you can use to help make mealtime easier for your parent and encourage better nutrition as they get older.
Top mealtime tools for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease include:
• Colored tableware. Elderly adults who are dealing with Alzheimer’s disease might not be able to recognize the foods that they are eating or might get confused about what they are supposed to be eating. Using colored tableware can make it easier for your parent to identify what they should be eating and make it more obvious in its surroundings. Colors such as red and orange are also thought to stimulate appetite, potentially helping your senior eat more.
• Adaptive utensils. Many elderly adults with Alzheimer’s disease struggle with mobility which can make it difficult for them to use eating utensils properly. Consider adaptive utensils such as weighted forks and spoons. These make it easier for your parent to lift and guide them for more control and more confident eating.
• No-spill cups and dishes. Difficulty with body control, confusion, and altered spatial clues can make it common for your elderly adult to knock over cups and dishes. This is not only frustrating, but can be upsetting as well, potentially leading to negative behaviors. Look for cups and dishes designed to remain upright and not spill, including those with suction cups on the bottom to keep them in place. This will make it easier for your parent to get to their food and prevent accidents.
If you have been considering ways to help your elderly loved one live a higher quality of life as they age in place, starting home care services for them may be the ideal solution. The highly personalized services of a senior home care services provider are designed specifically with your elderly loved one’s needs, limitations, and challenges in mind, while also promoting as much independence, activity, and engagement as possible. This means that they will be able to live a lifestyle that is safe, happy, healthy, and fulfilling as they address their needs in a way that is right for them.
For a senior who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, this personalized, attentive care can make a tremendous difference in their comfort, security, and health, giving them the opportunity to make more out of their later years as they cope with the effects of their dementia. This home care services provider can be with your parent during mealtime to help them address the particular issues that they face, preparing meals for them, sitting with them to provide companionship and support, and even providing physical assistance with eating so that your loved one gets the nutrition that they need and avoids potentially serious dangers and complications.
Source: https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-food-eating.asp