Senior Care in South Hills PA
When you visit your elderly loved one, it’s a good idea to take an unobtrusive look into her fridge and even her pantry. You might just learn a few things about what your loved one needs in order to eat right and stay healthy.
Food is Fuel
You probably already know that food is the fuel that your loved one’s body needs, but is she getting that fuel when she needs it? If your loved one isn’t eating properly, her body tends to show it. She might be sick more often, she might be losing weight, or she might even be gaining weight. Your loved one might also find that she has to go back into the hospital more often, which can be a horrible feeling on top of the reasons that she’s in the hospital in the first place.
Look for Expired or Rotten Food
The key is to actually look inside your loved one’s refrigerator and pantry regularly. The first thing that you need to look for are expired or rotten foods. Those are easy to get rid of and then you can work from there. Check expiration dates on anything that is in a jar or package. If it’s past the sell by date, toss the food. If the food is not packaged but obviously not edible, get rid of it. Some elderly loved ones might not be excited about this step, but it has to be done.
Help Her Stock Up
Once you’ve got your loved one’s fridge and pantry down to the food that is safe to eat, it’s time to help her stock up with healthy foods that are safe to eat. Your loved one might not have a fully stocked fridge and pantry for several reasons:
- Funds
- She doesn’t want to cook
- She can’t cook
- She can’t get to the store
There are many other reasons, too. Help her figure out the reasons and then provide solutions. If she can’t get to the store, offer to do her shopping for her. Cooking for one is not a lot of fun, so hire senior care providers who can cook for her. Solve the problems she’s facing so that she can eat healthy meals regularly.
Keep Up with Checking
Once you have your loved one’s fridge and pantry squared away, you have to keep up with it. Chances are that she won’t tell you when she needs to go shopping again, so you’ll need to make it a habit or work with her senior care providers or other family members to rotate the task.
Keeping your loved one’s pantry and fridge stocked is an excellent way to keep her healthy.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in South Hills, PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh at (412) 693-6009. We will answer all of your questions.
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