Nursing home residents need to be fed healthy meals. People will go through changes as they age, which can affect their ability to maintain a healthy weight, increase their chances of breaking their bones, cause them to lose their muscle mass, and much more. This is why it is extremely important for the elderly to eat healthy and well-rounded meals. They need to be getting enough things like protein, fats, and important vitamins and minerals. Getting the elderly to eat healthy foods can take some work since many elderly also experience changes in their taste buds and have a hard time tolerating certain foods, as well as have difficulties with opening or chewing certain foods. Here are some things you want to know about helping the elderly to eat the right foods.
Provide them with easy-to-eat foods
Things like bananas and pudding cups can be very hard for the elderly to eat, but these things can provide them with important things like potassium and dairy. When you serve these foods, you are going to want to open them and serve them without the peels and foil tops. These are just a couple of examples of the ways you want to ensure the residents eat foods that are provided to them.
Provide them with easy-to-tolerate foods
You want to stay a little bit on the bland side when you are choosing the right foods to feel the elderly in your nursing home. Many elderly people tend to lose their ability to handle spicy foods, and eating these foods can even cause stomach upset and heartburn for them. If you serve foods like tamales or enchiladas, then be sure these foods have been prepared using the mildest sauces and meats possible. Also, for breakfast, you can offer oatmeal as an option for anyone who doesn't like what is being served that morning. Oatmeal is a filling option that can replace a complete breakfast and leave the resident feeling satisfied until lunch is served.
Provide foods with mild textures
Elderly people can have a hard time chewing, especially if they wear dentures or are missing some teeth. Serve them foods that are very easy to chew and that have mild textures. You are going to want to choose things like Salisbury steaks over T-bones. Also, feeding residents foods that are hard for them to chew can lead to choking hazards.
Conclusion
You want to work with a good food service company that will work with you on offering your residents foods that will help them to stay as healthy as possible.