As our loved ones age, it is common for them to experience memory loss or forgetfulness. One of the challenges that many families face is ensuring that elderly relatives are eating enough throughout the day. It is common for seniors to forget if they have eaten, leading to poor nutrition and health problems.
As a caregiver or family member, it can be challenging to know what to do when your senior loved one doesn't remember if they've eaten during the day. In this article, we will discuss practical tips and strategies that can help ensure your elderly relatives are receiving the proper nutrition they need, even if they don't remember if they've eaten during the day.
How to Help a Senior Remember to Eat
Our senior loved ones may need help remembering to eat, and some steps can be taken to meet their nutritional needs.
Set a Regular Meal Schedule
Creating a consistent meal schedule helps seniors establish healthy eating habits. Regular wellness checks can assist in monitoring the type of food they're eating and promote a balanced diet.
Offer Healthy Snacks Throughout the Day
Offering snacks like fruit between meals will give them much-needed nutrients like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and proteins. Additionally, it may help seniors feel more energized throughout the day.
Make Meals Visually Appealing
A meal that looks good may prompt a reluctant eater to tuck in. Ensuring meals are visually appealing by serving colorful dishes sprinkled with herbs and spices provides a good taste on top of added nutrition.
Serve Smaller Portions
Serving smaller portions when preparing meals allows for easier digestion. Be generous enough so that your elderly relatives won't feel unfairly deprived while also keeping an eye on proportion to avoid overeating.
Provide Reminders to Eat
Provide mental cues that remind them to eat. Text messages or emails are helpful. You can even set an alarm to remind seniors to have a snack throughout the day.
Why Hiring an In-home Caregiver May Be Best
Sometimes, hiring in-home senior care is helpful when an elderly relative doesn't remember if they have eaten. In-home caregivers can help seniors with the following:
- Prep: Carers can find out what types of food the senior likes and ensure they are eating enough throughout the day.
- Company: Carers can provide companionship during meals, which may encourage better eating habits.
- Monitor: Carers can track which foods are eaten throughout the day—particularly important for those with certain health conditions like diabetes!
Need Help Reminding a Senior Loved One to Eat?
Making sure elderly relatives are eating enough and getting proper nutrition is essential. In cases where lifestyle adjustments or assistance from friends and family isn't an option, services like Senior Helpers Lafayette can provide a perfect solution. Our team can help seniors in Lafayette, New Iberia, Morgan City, Abbeville, Carencro, Eunice, and Jennings stay on top of their meal schedules, ensuring they don’t miss a single one. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about what Senior Helpers can offer!