Nutrition and Seniors

We must help to improve the lives of our seniors by assisting them not only with their financial health but also with their physical health. It is well known that eating a nutritionally sound diet at any age is beneficial. Unfortunately USDA says that seniors are nutritionally insufficient in folate,  vitamin E, C; intake of vegetable and meat group. One of the problems that seniors have are difficulty preparing meals. A few suggestions to minimize this problem are to participate in group meal program, have meals delivered to the home, hire a caregiver to cook, obtain housing that provides meal plan.

Seniors may lack appetite due to being lonely or not wishing to prepare meals for themselves. In addition, medication usages or change in test buds are common reasons for decreasing interest in food. We can provide an environment to eat with family or friends, cooking with spices and herbs to make the food tastier, if possible changing medications. 

Seniors sometimes finds it difficult to go shopping, this is another reason for not eating nutritionally. This could be due to problem with driving or simply walking to the store or standing in line. There are few options such as having groceries delivered, talking to the community volunteers to assist with shopping or delivering groceries, contracting with homecare agencies to provide help, shopping with family members, friends or caregivers. 

I have personally volunteered to deliver food to seniors in Pacific Palisades with "Meals on Wheels". If you know someone who has difficulty getting out, you can introduce them to Meal on Wheels West or similar places, so they can enjoy their nutritious hot food everyday.

For those who like to make a difference in our seniors’ life, please volunteer to help.

Fay Vahdani, President of Luxe HomeCare, www.LuxeHomeCare.come