As people get older, their nutritional needs often change. In some cases, a health care professional might recommend making the switch to a specialized diet based on their unique needs and considerations. If you have an elderly loved one in your life and are wondering if they might benefit from a lifestyle adjustment, consider discussing one of the following options with their home health aide. 

Soft Food Diet

With soft food diets, the idea is to stick to foods that require minimal chewing and are easy to swallow and digest. This means eliminating anything with a hard texture. If your loved one has difficulty chewing and swallowing, this diet lowers the risk of choking and reduces discomfort when eating. Soft food diets are different from meal plans that consist of just liquids or purees, as many normal foods are still available and easily prepared by a home health aide. 

High-Protein Diet

As people age, they lose muscle mass; as such, a high-protein diet is especially crucial for seniors. Protein also takes longer to digest, so your loved one will feel fuller for longer and be less tempted to snack. This offers an added benefit if their doctor recommends they lose weight. A home health aide can easily incorporate heart-healthy protein into your loved one's diet by preparing more fish, eggs, grilled chicken, and tofu.

Low-Cholesterol Diet

If your loved one recently discovered they have or are at risk of having high cholesterol, they'll need to adjust their diet. Doing so will protect their heart health and minimize the risk of clots or heart attack. This diet focuses on eliminating foods that are high in LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and swapping them out for foods that are high in HDL, or "good" cholesterol. This means avoiding foods like fattening dairy, processed and red meat, and sweets. Instead, they should incorporate options like beans, fatty fish, nuts, and whole grains. 

If you're seeking a home health aide to help your elderly loved one stick to a specialized diet, turn to the team at Safe Haven Home Care Inc. These compassionate professionals are proud to offer high-quality, personalized in-home care to seniors throughout all five boroughs of NYC. Give them a call today at (718) 968-6970 to schedule a consultation, and visit their website to learn more about what they do.