One of the most helpful home care services you can arrange is meal preparation. Feeding American estimates that 5.3 million older adults deal with food insecurity. This can impact overall health.
Some of it comes down to having to decide if groceries or medications are more important. Some seniors have a hard time making nutritious meals on their own due to joint pain, less muscle mass, or dizziness.
If your mom can’t chop ingredients or stand for long periods, cooking can seem impossible. When you’re with her, these sandwiches are easy to make, package, and store in the fridge or freezer for quick and easy meals when she’s alone.
Black Bean and Rice Wraps
Make a large batch of brown rice by using two cups of rice and four cups of water. Bring it to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and let simmer for 45 minutes. Turn the burner off and let the rice sit for another 15 minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork and add a half-cup of chopped green onion, one can of drained and rinsed black beans, a can of low-sodium corn, two cups of cheddar cheese, juice of a lime, a quarter cup of chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, and a teaspoon of cumin. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let that mixture cool.
Take large whole-grain tortillas. Put a generous scoop of the rice mixture in the lower third of the wrap. Finish it by folding in the sides, bringing the bottom over the filling, and rolling tight. Wrap in foil and write the date. Store in the freezer. When your mom is hungry, she can put the foil package in the oven for half an hour at 350 F.
Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
Pull out your mom’s preferred wrap or large whole-wheat flour tortilla. Across the lower third of the wrap, layer some romaine lettuce and drizzle that with her preferred Caesar dressing. Over that, layer strips of roasted chicken and shaved Parmesan cheese. Fold it up and wrap in deli paper or foil. Finish by writing the date on the package and place it in the refrigerator.
Caregivers Are the Better Solution
When you hire caregivers for meal preparation, your mom has someone she can sit down with and discuss her favorite meals and snacks. The caregiver can work with her to create a weekly menu, build the grocery list with items that are not in the kitchen, and take her shopping. If she’d rather stay home and have the caregiver run errands, that’s possible.
The caregivers you hire are there to help your mom load groceries into the car, carry groceries inside and put everything away. Caregivers can also prepare and cook meals and snacks for your mom.
If your mom hates eating alone, her caregiver can sit down and join her for the meal and a mealtime conversation. She’ll benefit from companionship and nutritious meals. Call to learn more.
If you or someone you know needs hiring Elderly Care in Blaine, MN, contact Adara Home Health Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve.
Call us at (888) 660-5772 for more information.