Archive for the ‘Diet’ Category

Diabetes Self-Care Measures Made Easier with an In-Home Caregiver

Posted on: March 12th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Diabetes care requires a high level of mental function, given the need to follow a treatment plan that includes diet, exercise, and medication components as well as blood sugar testing and other self-care measures.  While it may not be intentional, seniors who skip care steps may experience a quick decline in health with additional complications linked to diabetes.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may need help keeping up with diabetes care, consider getting the services of an in-home care agency that can provide a well-trained caregiver to assist.  Here are a few ways a caregiver can help:

  • A senior with reduced vision may not see a small foot sore that could quickly develop into a major problem.  The agency caregiver can inspect the diabetic’s feet daily, provide proper wound care and can coordinate care with the physician’s office to ensure the client’s feet are kept appropriately healthy.  This is a common condition AAging Better sees in many of its clients and trains its caregivers on the latest information for diabetic foot care.
  • An in-home caregiver can help ensure the client receives proper nutrition through the planning and preparation of tasty, diabetic-appropriate meals.  Again, this is a critical service AAging Better caregivers are well-trained in.
  • An in-home caregiver can assist with a physician-approved or physical therapist approved exercise program.  AAging Better’s caregivers frequently work with doctor’s offices and physical therapists’ instructions to ensure the client appropriately and correctly performs the exercises as outlined by these professionals.
  • A caregiver can provide reminders for glucose testing and can schedule regular physician checkups.  Reminding clients it’s time to test their blood sugar or take their medications is one of the most frequent services in-home care agency caregivers provide and all AAging Better employees must take and successfully pass a course called “Assistance with Medications” before being allowed to work in a home where they will be assisting clients with this function.

A little extra assistance from a compassionate caregiver can provide mental and physical stress relief for diabetic seniors at home.  AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you determine the right care plan and assist with your care needs.  For more information, contact us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

AAging Better In-Home Care Offers Expert Tips for Diabetes Care

Posted on: March 5th, 2012 by aagingbetter

Diabetes is a life-changing diagnosis—for both the person with the diagnosis and their family members who may be in the role of offering personal care assistance and support.  Maintaining a proper diet, keeping up religiously with prescribed medications, monitoring blood glucose and other health stats are daily care duties, and if ignored, diabetes can lead to serious and potentially life threatening complications.  While constant health management can be stressful, there are ways to help cut back on the stresses and strains of a new diagnosis of diabetes, while keeping up with the appropriate care necessary for good health.

  1. Be OK with not being perfect. Taking good care of yourself doesn’t mean having to be perfect in every way.  Some days your glucose will fluctuate for one reason or another, and that’s fine.  If it fluctuates too severely and may be a danger, certainly act on that by calling the doctor or office nurse and following their advice.  But, in general, learn from your mistakes and forgive yourself–and go on with pursuing a happy life.
  2. Identify roadblocks. Do you need to know more about diabetes care?  Are you making too many excuses to not exercise?  Do you have eating issues tied to emotions as opposed to hunger?  Whatever is keeping you from maintaining your blood sugar properly, identifying the problem is the first step on the road to better health and less stress.
  3. Accept help when and where you can get it. Don’t let pride get in the way of accepting help from friends or family when you need it.  We all need someone to lean on sometimes and joining a support group or talking to supportive family can be a big benefit.
  4. Create a daily care plan. Having a routine will help take the guess work out of managing your care.  Don’t forget to plan for disruptions to your regular schedule, such as eating out or taking a trip, and have a back-up plan by making the right choices in restaurants or taking the appropriate snacks with you on trips.  Don’t get caught without a back-up plan if you can help it.

Most importantly, always try to keep a positive attitude.  Think of diabetes care as leading to a healthier lifestyle – it’s a positive thing for your body and your life.  Uplifting self-talk is motivational and creates solutions.  If you or a loved one needs help with diabetes care management, AAging Better’s experienced staff and caregivers are happy to help you determine the right care plan and assist with any personal care needs you might have. For more information, contact us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas; (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas; and (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 

Elderly Nutritional Needs and a General Guide to Dietary Drink Supplements

Posted on: December 26th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Malnutrition in the elderly is a serious issue, and drink supplements are often added to a diet to help seniors get the nutrients they need.  But how do supplements stack up to real food, and how do the top supplements compare to one another?

Compared to “real food” options of low-fat yogurt and an orange (a typical breakfast for seniors or others), which has around 206 calories, 12 grams of protein, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 3.5 grams of fat, 467 grams of calcium, and 71 mg of vitamin C, here’s how some of the most popular drink supplements weigh in:

a.)  Boost (8 oz.): 240 calories, 33 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat, 300 grams of calcium, 0 grams of fiber, 60 mg of vitamin C

b.)  Ensure (8 oz.): 220 calories, 41 grams of carbohydrates, 9 grams of protein, 6 grams of fat, 300 grams of calcium, 3 grams of fiber, 30 mg of vitamin C

c.)  Carnation Instant Breakfast Essentials (11 oz.): 250 calories, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 14 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, 500 grams of calcium, 0 grams of fiber, 30 mg of vitamin C

Clearly in this and almost all instances, the best choice for ongoing adequate nutrition is real food, in this case the yogurt and fresh orange which have the lowest calories and highest calcium, fiber, and vitamin C.  However, drink supplements do offer important nutritional value for those who struggle to meet their caloric and nutritional needs.  In some cases, the can of supplement may be the only “meal” a senior manages to get down that morning–or for lunch or dinner.   As mentioned in the previous blog on weight loss, it’s essential family members closely monitor a frail elderly individual’s food intake to ensure they don’t just get all of their needs from supplemental drinks because these kinds of supplements were never meant to be substitutes for real food.

If the loved one or senior is unable to eat on a regular schedule, for whatever reason, it’s very important to make sure these nutritional drinks are balanced with a diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables (frozen is an acceptable second choice), whole grain breads and pastas, dairy products like cheese, low fat milk, and cottage cheese, as well as proteins from other sources like meats, beans and nuts.

AAging Better In-Home Care provides trained, compassionate caregivers that will come into the senior’s home to prepare nutritious meals, as well as, do the grocery shopping and all the clean up.  We ensure frail and elderly individuals obtain the proper nutrition needed to stay safe and effective in their own homes rather than be moved to an assisted living facility if they can no longer cook or take care of themselves.

For more information about meal preparation and all our services, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

How to Tell if Your Loved One is Getting Enough to Eat During the Holidays

Posted on: December 19th, 2011 by aagingbetter

Certain normal aspects of aging, like chewing issues, digestive problems, loneliness, depression, and certain medications, can decrease food intake and make it difficult for seniors to get the nutrition they need.  And because most family members can’t be there to monitor their loved ones’ meals and snacks, it’s often hard to know if dietary needs are being met.  There are, however, a few signs to watch out for and things that family members can monitor that may indicate a lack of proper nutrition.

  1. Has the senior complained of loss of appetite, digestive problems, or chewing or swallowing difficulties?  Has there been decreased food intake over the past several months due to these complaints?
  2. Has the senior experienced a sudden or a steady weight loss during the last 3 months?  Weight loss, particularly in those who are not active, can be an indication that the person is not eating properly or that there may be other serious conditions going on.
  3. Does the senior have mobility issues?  Being bed-bound or unable to go outside and do their own grocery shopping or eating out at restaurants can cause nutritional challenges.
  4. Has the senior suffered psychological stress or acute disease in the past 3 months?  Loss of a spouse, a family member or simply being alone during the holidays can cause significant stress in a person’s life and the elderly have even less ability to cope well with such events than younger people do, especially if the senior is left isolated and alone from the loss.  And illness almost always causes seniors to lose some weight but if the illness is a prolonged one, the accompanying weight loss should be a definite concern to be watched closely.
  5. What is the senior’s body mass index (BMI)?  A BMI of 18.5 or less may be a sign that the person is not eating enough, while a BMI of 30 or more can indicate obesity.  BMIs are not normally calculated outside of fitness gyms or doctor’s offices but when the BMI is known and followed closely at doctor’s visits or elsewhere, and it continues to drop for no apparent reason, BMIs are a good way to alert family members to the fact that a senior may not be eating or absorbing their foods properly.

If you or your loved one has been displaying any of these signs, consult a physician as soon as possible.  Another way to help counter ongoing weight loss or frailty due to poor nutrition is to call upon the services of an agency like AAging Better In-Home Care.  Our agency can place a caregiver in the home who will do the shopping and cooking for the senior and ensure they are getting their proper nutritional needs met.

For more information on how AAging Better can assist you or your loved ones with nutritious meal preparation and monitoring, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

Holiday Nutrition: How to Get the Necessary Nutrients

Posted on: December 12th, 2011 by aagingbetter

As adults age, calorie requirements change due to increased body fat, decreased muscle and less activity.  Because of this, meeting nutrient needs during the holidays and throughout the year becomes more of a challenge for seniors.  AAging Better In-Home Care understands that the key to this problem is to choose foods that are high in nutrients in relation to the calories they contain.  For example, low-fat milk is more nutrient-dense than regular milk because its nutrient content is the same, but it has fewer calories and less fat.  The following are a few examples of foods that can help seniors watch calories during the holidays and the rest of the year while keeping a nutrient-rich diet.

Protein needs typically do not change for older adults; however, some proteins, like turkey, chicken, and fish are healthier than red meats.  Other foods with high levels of protein include:

  • Eggs (even those with higher cholesterol levels do fine with a minimum of two eggs per week but for those with good cholesterol levels, eggs 3-4 times a week are encouraged)
  • Peas
  • Beans (all beans are a very good source of protein)
  • Tofu
  • Nuts (raw nuts are much healthier than roasted and salted but a small handful of either is usually recommended rather than larger amounts eaten at one sitting)

Fat should be something that older adults reduce in their diets; however, there are some “good” fats that can and should be part of a healthy diet, including:

  • Olive oil (recommended as a primary cooking oil or on salads)
  • Seeds
  • Sunflower oil
  • Avocados
  • Nuts (high in fats but good sources of protein)

Calcium is a very important nutrient that helps minimize bone loss in older adults.  Milk, cheese, and yogurt are all good sources of calcium, as are:

  • Figs
  • Tofu
  • Kale
  • White beans
  • Cabbage

A healthy, nutrient-rich diet is vital for older adults.  Aaging Better In-Home Care understands the unique challenges of senior nutritional needs and trains all of its caregivers in the proper preparation of healthy meals.  For more information about our shopping and meal preparation services, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.

 
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