What To Do If Your Senior Parent is Overeating
Even if they are living independently and aging in place, your senior needs to concentrate on physical activity, food, and mental health. If you believe your elderly parents need further assistance, you should consider hiring home care providers. Some seniors may not eat enough to maintain energy throughout the day, leading them to move less, which can be extremely unhealthy.
On the other hand, some senior parents may have the opposite problems with food. They don’t realize that food and nutrition are so connected to health and overeating foods because they don’t think it matters much anymore. It is so crucial for you to encourage healthy eating and help your senior focus on portion control. If you are not with your senior every day and you know they are overeating, consider hiring home care providers to help your senior live a better life.
The elderly are prone to overeating, which may lead to major health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, poor digestion, obesity, and impaired bone health. To assist elders in maintaining excellent mental and physical health, caregivers must promote the appropriate diet and physical activity. Here are some ways to prevent your elderly loved one from overeating.
Focus on Meal Planning
Home Care Philadelphia, PA: Overeating and Seniors
Hunger is one of the most critical contributors to overeating. As opposed to eating regular meals and occasional snacks, many seniors wait until they’re hungry to prepare food. Consequently, individuals suffer increased desires and often overeat. By planning meals, your parent may prevent lengthy spells of hunger, reducing the chance of overeating. Assist your loved one with weekly food planning, including healthy snacks.
Focus on Adding In Protein
Protein may help a person feel filled for longer, preventing overeating. Breakfast should consist of a source of protein, such as oatmeal and berries, egg whites and vegetables, or Greek yogurt with nuts and fruit. Protein-rich diets improve satiety and decrease daylong hunger. Eating extra protein may also aid in weight loss, avoiding obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.
Work On Understanding Portions
Instead of abstaining from food, your loved one could consume lesser servings for breakfast, lunch, and supper. If there is a lot of food on the plate, your loved one will likely finish it all, even if they are already full. Controlling portion proportions may help avoid overindulgence. Portion management also minimizes the likelihood of binge eating.
Always Place Water Within Reach
Overeating and excessive snacking may occur when the body mistakes hunger for thirst because fluids are essential for regular bodily function. Consequently, older folks must consume water throughout the day. Encourage your loved ones to drink a glass of water every time they feel they want to have a snack. Water consumption may prevent your loved one from eating sugary drinks and high-calorie meals by reducing the desire to overeat and frequent snacking.
Focus on a Healthy Sleeping Schedule
A lack of sleep may cause hormone fluctuations, which can affect hunger throughout the day. When your loved one does not get enough sleep at night, they may have difficulty regulating their appetite and thus overeat. In addition to overeating, sleep loss may increase the desire for unhealthy foods, including cakes, cookies, chips, and drinks. A minimum of eight hours of sleep every night may minimize these harmful urges and reduce the likelihood of overeating.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Philadelphia, PA please contact the caring staff at True Direct Home Health Care today.
Doc, as he is called by everyone - staff, patients and clients - first experienced home health care and hospice care while as a colleg student at King's College as he cared for his mother every day while she first battled COPD and then lung cancer. It was during this time that he came to understand that caring for a patient was more than just clinical expertise.
"Admittedly, my strongest attribute is my communication skills and the simple fact that I love to help people. Even the smallest thing you can do for someone really can mean so much to them long term. In fact, it could change them forever. That's what providing quality personal home health care should be all about."
In his spare time, he cooks for homeless shelters and children's music and arts events. He also is highly involved in his local youth sports soccer academy as a coach and Board member.
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