Senior Care News

How to Help Your Elderly Parent Eat More

Learn why seniors may stop eating and get practical tips from home care and medical professionals to help them eat more and thrive while aging in place.

Sometimes, seniors stop eating, which can be frustrating for you as the caregiver. You may get angry and you may feel like you’re not doing a good job, but the truth is, this is a natural thing that happens. Your senior loved one may not be eating a lot because they cannot taste or smell things like they used to, have a hard time chewing and swallowing, or forget to eat regularly. Many of these things are not your fault, but it can be challenging to work through them without help from home care and medical professionals.

Here are some tips to help you and home care services get your senior to eat more and thrive while aging in place.

Hire More Help

The truth is as an adult child you are more likely to get frustrated easier than a professional. It can feel like roles have reversed, leaving you feeling like you are forcing your senior to eat. Or maybe it can feel like you’re at your wit’s end and have given up focusing on food, which can be so dangerous for your loved one’s health.

By hiring senior home care, you can focus elsewhere while they focus on things like creating a good routine that involves eating regularly. They can help manage a senior’s health by providing a stable environment where a senior is eating the foods they like and at regular hours.

Home care providers can help your loved one get to the doctor, meal prep food, and manage their daily activities. This will help you and your loved one thrive during their final years of life.

Make Smaller Meals

Big meals can be daunting; they may feel like they’re being forced to eat a massive amount of food, and it can actually stress them out more than they realize. Your senior loved one may eat more frequently if you give them smaller, almost snack-sized meals. If they eat 5-6 times a day but smaller portions, it can be easier to digest, and they can stay full throughout the day.

Your elderly mom or dad still needs to fuel their body, and if they are not eating at the main times, they may not be getting the fuel they need. Instead, their routines need to change, and they may become less traditional, but home care services can help. Instead of three meals a day, having more meals may look different, but they will still need to meet their caloric needs no matter what their eating habits start to look like.

Sneak In Calories

Your senior loved one may not be able to chew things well; luckily, there are other ways to get in the necessary calories and minerals. Your loved one may love smoothies or blended drinks packed with tons of fresh fruits and vegetables. These can be super filling and hydrating, making them the perfect meal replacement.

Home care professionals can even help add in protein and other things that your senior may need to thrive. This can be a great way to start or end the morning. Seniors can drink these up without having problems.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Allen, TX, contact the caring staff at HomeWell Care Services Plano TX today. Call (469) 596-6500

HomeWell Care Services Plano TX is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Richardson, Garland, Little Elm, Prosper, and the surrounding areas.