If your senior parent has recently returned home after a hospital stay, they may have been not eating right for a long time. Hospital food isn’t exactly great for seniors, and your senior loved one may not have much of an appetite. But it’s very important for seniors to start eating a healthy diet again when they get home. They will need the vitamins and nutrients from a healthy diet to help them recover. If your senior parent hasn’t been eating well because they have been in the hospital, try these things to get them back on a healthy diet at home:
Post-Hospital Care
Post-hospital care can help seniors after they come home from the hospital with lots of different tasks, including eating healthy meals. When your senior loved one has post-hospital care the caregiver can shop for the foods that your senior loved one really likes, make them the meals they want to eat, and make sure that they are eating throughout the day. Having a caregiver with your senior parent after they come home from the hospital can give you peace of mind because you can be sure that your senior parent is eating enough throughout the day and staying hydrated too.
Lots Of Healthy Snacks
Sometimes seniors don’t want traditional meals after they come home from the hospital. If your senior parent is still spending most of their time in bed they may not like eating in bed or having full meals that they have to eat from a tray in bed. If your senior parent doesn’t want to eat three regular meals a day while they recover try offering them a range of healthy snacks throughout the day. That way they are still eating the healthy foods they should be eating but they are just snacking throughout the day instead of eating them at regular meals. Some great healthy snack options are veggie trays with dip, pre-cut fruit in plastic containers that are already portioned, yogurt with fruit or nuts, and cheese and cracker trays.
Their Favorite Meals
Sometimes seniors come home from the hospital with a huge appetite because of the bad food they were eating at the hospital. If that’s the case then make sure that your senior parent is getting their favorite meals. If they want meatloaf, or a lasagna, or spaghetti with meatballs a caregiver can make those meals for them and then package up what’s left for lunches or dinners later in the week. It’s a very good idea to portion out large meals into single portion containers that can be easily heated up so that your senior loved one isn’t going overboard and eating too much at once.
Restaurant Take Out The Healthy Way
If your senior loved one wants restaurant meals there are ways to make those healthy as well. You can order four or six plain chicken breasts and then all the sides and fixings. Portion out a chicken breast, a few sides of vegetables, and condiments into single serving containers and your senior loved one can heat up a meal from their favorite restaurant any time they want one.
If you or an aging loved one are considering post-hospital care in Granbury, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call (817) 631-7710
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Parker County, Tarrant County, Johnson County, Hood County, Somervell County, Erath County, Bosque County and Hamilton County in Texas.
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