Cooking for Seniors – Tips for Caregivers

By Jeremy Grant

Cooking is one activity that feeds the soul as much as the stomach. Many family memories are made while working together in a kitchen or sitting around a dining table. People of all ages enjoy a meal full of delightful tastes and textures—however, some elderly struggle to eat. The reasons differ. Sometimes, it is because of chronic health issues. Other times, it could be because of ill-fitting dentures, missing teeth, or sore gums. You can still offer your aging loved one healthy, nutrient-dense foods that taste good and are easier to eat. When you need assistance to ensure Mom and Dad are getting what they need nutritionally, consider hiring professional home care workers to help you.

How to Support Seniors’ Health through Cooking

As we age, our bodies do not react to foods as they did when we were younger. The French fries and chocolate shakes of our teen years aren't the best choices when you struggle with diabetes or heart disease. Dental problems can also make old favourites, frustrating to chew. You can help your seniors through their mealtime challenges. A trusted Personal Support Worker (PSW) can provide the help you need in your daily caregiving duties for senior home care.

1. Cooking for Diabetic Seniors

Diabetes affects how the pancreas reacts to the blood sugar or glucose within the bloodstream. Your mom's pancreas will either not produce enough insulin, or her body's cells do not respond as they should to the insulin produced. It is possible to help her manage her diabetes by aiding her in breaking some lifelong habits:

• Please don't make her quit her favourites ‘cold turkey’! Encourage your mom to implement a couple of gradual changes each week. This gives her the opportunity to adjust and build confidence in her ability to make significant changes over the long term.
• Make specific, realistic, and measurable goals. Mom may want to "eat less sugar," but it is not easy to determine what that entails. You can help her with recommendations such as "only buy sugar-free candy" for her sweet tooth.
• Encourage your aging mother to look at the yummy food she can have and add one daily. Focus on what she can have, not what she can't. It gets frustrating to look at a long list of "can't haves." It becomes easier when your senior can look through a positive list of all the foods she can continue to enjoy.

Diabetes is one of many chronic health issues that may plague your elderly family member. With the help of a personal support worker, you can give your loved one the best opportunity for success with keeping a healthy, balanced diet.

If your aging parent has a weak heart, you can help them cope by cooking meals that are better suited to their condition.

Here some suggestions for creating a diabetic-friendly plate.

2. Cooking for Seniors with Heart Disease

No one is ever prepared for a diagnosis of heart disease. It affects your quality of life. How can your father be the best grandparent possible when this chronic illness prevents him from engaging with his grandchildren? You can help him shift his lifestyle and make more heart-healthy choices:

• Measure everything. "Eyeballing" measurements is not the best choice when dealing with heart disease. It's better to utilize measuring cups and spoons and invest in a food scale. These tools ensure you aren't overdoing it on cooking oils, butter, cream, and meat.
• Replace salt with healthier alternatives. Cutting out processed foods is the first step in lowering the amount of salt your loved one consumes. For daily meals and snacks, consider seasoning options besides salt. You may choose lemon, vinegar, garlic, ginger, fresh herbs, and dry spices.
• Choose different meats. Too much red meat is not a wise choice. It wears on your arteries. Look for leaner options like fish, pork, and poultry. You can find plenty of recipes online to make meat proteins that are flavourful and healthy.

Some aging adults not only have health issues requiring special diets but may struggle to eat because of ill-fitting dentures or other dental problems. This presents a different dilemma that may be overcome with help from a professional caregiver.

Learn more about cooking for seniors with heart disease.

3. Cooking for Seniors with Dental Problems

Many things change as the body ages, including the taste buds. You may notice that Mom adds more salt to her potatoes, or Dad likes an extra spoon of sugar in his tea. There are ways to enhance the flavours of food, but it may still be hard for your loved one to eat when they struggle with dental problems. Make meals enjoyable again by utilising a few tips:

• Bring out the food processor. This handy, small appliance can ease the troubles of chewing tough foods by chopping them into finer pieces.
• Shred meat. By shredding pork and chicken, your loved one will not have to bite down as hard when chewing.
• Pull out the slow cooker. Crockpots (aka slow cookers) break down tougher cuts of meat, making them softer to eat.
• Cook more soup and stew. Not only can you wrap up a load of nutrition in one bowl, but soups and stews are also soft to eat, and they are filling!

Knowing some tips and tricks will save you time and energy, ensuring your elderly parent has the best foods for their age and medical conditions. What about recipes? You may not have a lot of time to research meal ideas. Get help cooking for your senior by investing in the services of a home care worker. They can aid you in quick meals that are tasty and nutritious.

4. Quick Meal Ideas for Seniors

If you are concerned that your seniors are not getting enough nutrition, it may be time to step in with some quick meal ideas: 

• Breakfast. Ensure that your Dad starts the day off well with simple, delicious breakfast meals like warm oatmeal and berries, hard-boiled eggs with fresh fruit and whole wheat toast, yogurt parfait, whole wheat toast with peanut butter or almond butter and fruit, or a poached egg on top of whole wheat toast and steamed asparagus.
• Lunch. Spice things up a bit with quinoa salad accompanied by sauteed stir-fried vegetables and pine nuts tossed in Italian salad dressing. There are also easy, and healthy meals like eggs and red potatoes, cottage fries, southwest omelets, or salmon wraps.
• Dinner. Feed Mom like she is at a 5-star restaurant with baked or grilled Alaskan salmon, lamb and potatoes, shrimp and pasta, or liver and fennel. Provide her with a complete protein in plant form with beans and rice.

For the best success in providing your seniors with a higher quality of life, consider giving them the gift of a personal support worker. They will aid your loved ones with the meals they need to stay strong and healthy.

Find here some suggestions to get nutritious meals on the table faster.

Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle with Help from Quality Caregivers

You are never too old to live a healthier lifestyle. Give your aging parent the tools they need to have a higher quality of life by enlisting the services of a professional caregiver from Home Instead Ottawa, ON. Our team provides your senior the support they need through services such as cooking nutritious meals, light housekeeping, companionship, and Alzheimer's care. We love what we do. Find out for yourself when you contact us today!  

Call us at (613) 599-6906 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver every day to families in Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Orleans, Rockliffe, Alta Vista, New Edinburgh, Manor Park, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Manotick, Sandy Hill, Hunt Club, Vanier, Richmond, Carleton Place, Gloucester, Kemptville