There are many eating issues that your elderly loved one faces if they have dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or other degenerative health issues. The trick is knowing how to provide better feeding assistance to the elderly. By learning these tips, you can help to maintain or improve your elderly loved one’s nutrient intake, overall well-being, and overall health. If needed, you could even get personal care at home services for feeding your elderly loved one.
Proper Positioning
One of the top tips for better feeding assistance for the elderly is proper positioning. This can vary depending on what type of issues your elderly loved one has. Most of the time, however, it is best to let senior citizens eat independently as well as they can. However, you or a personal care at home provider may need to keep their upper body upright. Your elderly loved one’s ankles, knees, and hips should be at a 90-degree angle when possible. Their feet should be flat on the floor or on the supports of their wheelchair. Their head should be straight with the chin facing downward just a bit.
It is important to know that poor positioning can cause aspiration or choking. These two issues can be fatal. If you have trouble with proper positioning, you can always get personal care at home services, so the elder care providers can take over this task.
Fluid and Food Texture
Did you know that the texture of the fluids and food your elderly loved one drinks and eats need to be optimal for their disability? For example, some senior citizens can’t drink water or juice that isn’t mixed in with something as it is too thin. Sometimes, senior citizens can’t eat thick foods, so they need to be pureed. You will have to learn what your elderly loved one can and can’t eat or drink. Then, you and the personal care at home providers can work together to ensure their fluids and foods are always in the right texture.
Other Techniques and Considerations
If you are trying to learn what tips you can use for better feeding assistance with your elderly loved one, there are some other techniques and considerations to think about, too. The most important ones include:
- Don’t rush them while they are eating
- Wash your hands and theirs before assisting during meals
- Serve only one course or type of food at a time
- Use hard plastic or metal teaspoons for pureed or minced diets
- Make sure foods aren’t too hot as you would for a newborn with formula
- Offer only little bits at a time
- Put the spoon where your elderly loved one can see and get it safely
- Allow them time to chew and swallow the bite before giving the next one
- Make sure their chin is slightly tucked to ensure safe swallowing
These are some of the best techniques or methods for when you are feeding your elderly loved one.
Hiring Personal Care at Home Providers
Does your elderly loved one need help eating or to drink? If so, hopefully, the tips, techniques, and considerations noted above can help to ensure they are drinking and eating safely. Don’t forget, if needed, you can always get personal care at home services to help with the feeding of your elderly loved one, too.
Sources: https://www.elderly.gov.hk/english/carers_corner/diet/feeding.html
If you or an aging loved one is considering Personal Care at Home Services in Lakewood NJ please contact the caring staff at Expert Home Care today at (732) 937-5320.
Providing Live-In Home Care in New Jersey, Since 1985
We have been providing Home Health Care to New Jersey families since 1985, and have grown to become one of the largest licensed providers of Live-In Home Care in the upper New Jersey area. Our many years of New Jersey home care experience has produced a company that over 8,000 clients have come to rely on confidently, for help.
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