Seniors can have trouble eating for a variety of reasons. The big problem with eating challenges is that they often mean that seniors don’t eat as well as they need to in order to remain healthy. Figuring out what’s behind the eating trouble and trying a few different solutions can help. Personal care at home services offer the support that seniors and families find helpful while dealing with eating issues.
Start with a Doctor’s Visit
Whether this is a new problem or a continuation of something seniors have faced before, it helps to gain a better understanding of what is happening. A doctor’s visit allows seniors to share what is happening and to start looking for solutions. Underlying medical causes can be treated, but there may be other possible causes.
Dig Into Possible Reasons for Eating Trouble
Seniors face many challenges with eating as they age. They may have dental issues, trouble swallowing, or discomfort after they eat. Medication side effects, loneliness during meals, and changes in how food smells and tastes can also be contributing factors.
Getting to the root cause can take some time, and personal care at home providers can help by noticing what seniors are experiencing.
Brainstorm Some Solutions
There may be a variety of solutions seniors are willing to try. If seniors find cooking and meal planning the biggest challenge, elder care services can offer support. If the problems are more closely related to difficulty using utensils, personal care at home can help seniors eat during meals.
Trying out a few different solutions helps seniors to determine what works and what isn’t helpful for their specific situation.
Try Not to Make This a Big Deal
The more stressful these situations become, the worse they can feel for seniors. Finding answers that help seniors to feel empowered and independent matters more than families might realize. Personal care at home can help seniors get the support they need with meals and eating without feeling overwhelmed by the process.
Approaching the issue calmly and openly makes it easier for seniors to get the help they need.
Keep Seniors Involved
Keeping seniors involved in solving the problem is an important part of being successful. When seniors participate in the problem-solving process, they feel connected and actively involved.
A common problem as seniors age is being told what to do and having decisions made for them. Feeling removed from their own lives can have disastrous effects for seniors, contributing to mental health issues and exacerbating difficulty eating.
Watching seniors have trouble with simple daily tasks is not easy for family caregivers. Getting to the bottom of what’s causing the trouble is a good start, and it helps build a foundation for the right solution. Personal care at home providers can be a significant part of ensuring that seniors receive help with eating and other tasks, including bathing, grooming, and household chores.
If you or someone you know needs Personal Care at Home in Fairmont, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 525-7742 for more information.