Do you have an older loved one with nutritional concerns? If so, they’re not alone; many seniors face nutritional challenges, especially those who live alone. Indeed, according to HealthinAging.org, about a third of adults older than 65 overeat, while one in 10 older adults fail to eat enough.
The good news is that proper senior nutrition is one of the cornerstones of high-quality assisted living communities, such as the SummerHouse Ashton Manor in Luling, LA. In a community like ours, senior-focused meal preparation services help make every mealtime a way to nourish the body and mind.
We’ll explore the crucial roles meal prep plays in the lives of older adults, so please read on.
Minimize Meal Skipping
In one study of over 10,000 adults 70 years and older published on PubMed Central, nearly one in five (19.5%) participants self-reported skipping meals. The researchers also noted that this problem was more common in older adults who:
- Live alone
- Have poor oral health
- Have diabetes
- Experience frailty
The Risks of Frequent Meal Skipping
As the body ages, it becomes less efficient at processing, absorbing, and metabolizing nutrients.
For example, a Medical Xpress article noted that aging causes the body to produce less stomach acid. As a result, the body can no longer absorb vitamins like folate (vitamin B12) and iron as well as it used to. Liver functions also decline, making it less efficient in processing fats created by the body and those consumed through the diet.
For that reason, older adults are already at risk of nutritional woes. Skipping meals can worsen the problem and make seniors even more likely to develop malnutrition. According to WebMD, malnutrition can increase older adults’ risk of:
- Getting ill
- Falling
- Sustaining injuries
- Requiring hospitalization
How Elderly Meal Prep Helps Combat Meal Skipping
One of the top benefits of meal services for elderly adults is that they make nutritious, delicious meals more accessible.
For example, SummerHouse Ashton Manor provides our residents with three chef-prepared meals daily. We offer these culinary delights with healthy treats and snacks as part of our community’s exclusive Homestyle Sensations Dining program.
Because our expert culinary team prepares everything from scratch, our residents no longer have to worry about planning and cooking their meals. Our friendly table-side service team also serves every hot meal to our residents with a smile. When older adults receive this kind of high-quality dining service and have food within easy reach, they’re less likely to skip meals.
Ensure Meals Meet Senior Dietary Needs
Proper nutrition planning for seniors is at the heart of meal prep services offered by assisted living communities. The talented culinary teams understand that seniors’ dietary needs differ from those of their younger peers. So, they prepare each menu with meals that consider the nutritional requirements of their older residents.
Boost Appetite in Older Adults
Another nutrition-related issue associated with aging is a decline in appetite.
Some older adults may no longer “feel” the same way about food as they did when they were younger. Their energy levels drop because they engage in fewer physical activities. Because they don’t move about as much as before, they may need fewer calories, which can lead to appetite loss.
Aging can also impact older adults’ sense of smell and taste, diminishing their appetites. For seniors who live alone, not having anyone to share a meal with can be enough to make them lose their appetite.
Fortunately, meal preparation services in reputable senior living communities help stimulate residents’ appetites. Here’s how.
Tasty but Nutritious Meals
Since older adults generally have less energy, they may no longer want to bother whipping up meals that are slightly more complex but more nutritious and delicious. Instead, they may just stick to bland food that may be simpler to make but lack nutrients and take away the joy of eating.
Assisted living communities combat this problem by ensuring a team of culinary experts prepares each meal. Chefs in these communities take pride in preparing each meal from scratch and ensuring it’s tasty and has the essential nutrients older adults need.
When older adults know they can rely on someone to provide nourishing, delicious meals, they’re likelier to have better appetites and look forward to eating.
Varied Meal Options
Older adults may also find their appetites disappearing because of food boredom, which can happen when they repeatedly eat the same things. At SummerHouse Ashton Manor, our residents don’t have to worry about this issue, as we offer them varied meal options as part of our community’s exceptional amenities and services. Here, we treat our residents to homemade favorites and international cuisines.
Social Dining
Meal preparation, especially with table-side service that serves meals in a social setting, also provides senior health benefits through brain-boosting and stimulating socialization. Staying social is crucial to healthy aging, as it helps older adults feel less lonely, isolated, and bored. Besides, eating is more fun and pleasurable when there’s company, whetting the appetite and making food even tastier.
Helps Seniors Stick to Medication Schedules
Some older adults may need to take medicines with food, while others must take them on an empty stomach.
Without a structured eating plan, seniors who take prescription medicines are at risk of medication errors. For instance, if they need to take medicine with food but eat late, they may also take their medicine late. Doing so puts their health and safety at risk, especially if their medication regimen requires following a strict schedule.
A predictable meal schedule through meal planning services helps ensure seniors take their medicines correctly, safely, and on time.
Improving Health and Well-Being With Proper Senior Nutrition
Meal preparation is critical to optimal senior nutrition, as it helps lower the risks of meal skipping, lack of appetite, and unmet dietary needs. It also plays a crucial role in senior socialization, allowing older adults to enjoy eating while being in the company of others.
At SummerHouse Ashton Manor in Luling, LA, our residents’ health, safety, and well-being are our priority. As such, we strive to satisfy their unique needs by ensuring they always have access to delicious yet well-balanced meals.
Call us today to learn more about how our assisted living community can help you or your loved one as we have done for our other residents since 2013.
