Meal Preparation, Planning and Cleanup

It can be very difficult to prepare nutritious and healthy meals when older adults struggle with chronic diseases or are recuperating from a hospital stay. It can even be a burden for those seniors who are aging successfully. Planning and cooking meals can be not only physically challenging but seniors may also have a lack of desire to cook. It has been proven that as we age our sense of taste (in food not fashion) declines. Just like eyesight, our sense of smell diminishes as we age. Flavor and enjoyment of our food is directly tied to taste and aroma. Some older adults have ill fitting dentures which can contribute to a lack of desire to eat properly as well as discomfort chewing certain foods. Many people who are in Hospice care need assistance and encouragement to eat. Sometimes the best medicine is smelling, eating and enjoying your personal favorite comfort foods! Our Care Pros can assist with all aspects of meal preparation for seniors.

Benefits of a Healthy Diet

For older adults, the benefits of a healthy diet can include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness, faster recuperation from injury and more energy. Many seniors may need to follow a new specific diet that they are not familiar with: heart healthy, low salt, diabetic or a low fat diet. Our Care Pros can help with not only healthy meal planning but also shopping, cooking and cleaning up. Smelling delicious food cooking can help perk up a waning appetite. Sharing a meal with another person is a comforting thing to do and can create a good mood especially for those seniors who are feeling lonely.

Our Care Pros can also assist a senior with meal prep. Perhaps an older woman who has early dementia still finds pleasure in cooking but shouldn’t be using the oven or stove without supervision or cannot follow a recipe any longer. Or  a woman who likes to bake cookies for her neighborhood or family but doesn’t have the stamina to be in the kitchen on her feet anymore.  We can let her do as much as she can in a safe manner and finish up the meal together . She gets a wonderful meal, feels capable and relevant without any possibility of hurting herself or feeling frustrated.

Please note that our Care Pros are not gourmet chefs but capable home cooks who can follow recipes and make simple healthy dishes.