While eating a healthy diet is beneficial for everyone, it’s especially important for senior citizens. From diabetes and heart disease to constipation, eating healthy can help fight off a variety of health conditions. Here are a few tips for caregivers to help seniors live healthier lifestyles.

4 Food Tips to Help Keep Senior Loved Ones Healthy

1. Stay Hydrated 

As people age, their bodies don’t hold onto as much water, so they are at risk of dehydration. While 2 liters a day is generally accepted, elderly individuals may need more depending on their personal health. An easy and convenient way to incorporate nutrition into an elderly person’s diet while keeping them hydrated is through all-natural and low-sugar fruit and vegetable juices. 

2. Incorporate a Well-Rounded Diet

Incorporating healthy food groups in the right portions is paramount; this means plenty of fruits and vegetables, meats that are easier to digest like chicken and turkey, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and less junk food. Calcium, for instance, protects a senior’s bone health and decreases their risk of falls, so give them plenty of milk, yogurt, and cheese. An in-home caregiver can help you prepare some of the meals.

3. Include Fiber-Heavy Foods

Fiber is an important part of any diet, but caregivers should be especially cognizant of including plenty in a senior’s diet. Seniors often experience constipation and other problems due to medication use, inactivity, and changes in their digestive system. Incorporating more fiber, such as beans, broccoli, and chia seeds, into your loved one’s diet can help alleviate some of these problems. 

4. Make Meals Easier

Easy-open cans, packages, and cartons can create less stress in a senior’s life, and caregivers can help by opening milk jugs and tightly sealed containers for them. Convenient, easy-to-make items, like canned or frozen vegetables or instant oatmeal, can take away some of that cooking stress and quickly provide nutritious meals. 

If your loved one is having difficulty cooking or staying healthy, the caregivers at Deer Valley Home Health Services in Berkeley, St. Charles, and St. Louis, MO, help seniors live their best lives. They have over a decade of experience helping the elderly through caregiving services and can ensure your loved one eats healthy. To learn more about their services, visit this home health agency online or call (314) 355-3679 today.