How to Make Mealtimes Easier for Seniors Receiving Home Care
Understanding Mealtime Challenges for Seniors
Mealtimes shouldn’t become an issue for you or the person you’re caring for
If you’re unsure what meals are good for elderly people, then you should ask for additional support from your loved one’s wider healthcare team, such as a GP, dietician or physiotherapist. Alternatively, receiving care at home from Helping Hands means that our customers across England and Wales have access to our expert care and support, including preparing nutritious meals.
There are many reasons why challenges may arise when supporting an older person to eat; this could be due to swallowing difficulties, an inability to taste, or inadequate hydration, but by having care at home you or your loved one can relax in familiar surroundings and eat their favourite meals in comfort.
Why Nutrition and Routine Matter in Senior Care
Routine is important to many older people, especially those living with dementia or a learning disability. Therefore, establishing a routine around mealtimes may make the difference between someone eating or not. It’s always about keeping the individual at the centre of their care experience, though, as other people may not enjoy a rigid structure around when they eat.
This is one of the reasons that people often wish to remain living at home for their care: the ability to choose when they eat, sleep, and carry out everyday tasks. Eating well also has an impact on both physical and emotional wellbeing and contributes to an improved quality of life. A balanced diet can also support cognitive function, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety.
Practical Tips to Simplify Mealtimes
Simplifying mealtimes for older people may help to encourage their appetite and create a calm environment. Smaller portions, familiar foods, and a clutter-free dining area may also make the person feel more inclined to eat.
Creating a Comfortable and Stress-Free Dining Environment
Making sure that the person is in a comfortable position to eat is essential to reduce anxiety around the risk of choking. Make sure food is easy to see too, for instance on contrasting colour plates.
Planning Nutritious and Enjoyable Meals
Utilise straightforward recipes, familiar dishes, and meal kits. Serving smaller portions may also encourage someone to eat; small dishes with a variety of favourite foods on each may tempt an appetite.
Adapting Meals to Dietary Needs and Preferences
If time is short, then batch cooking in advance may help. The person’s healthcare team must work together to carefully monitor dietary restrictions, allergies and to provide appropriate meals.
Encouraging Independence While Offering Support
Specialised equipment such as weighted utensils, plates with raised edges, and cups with handles can all help someone feed themselves. Gentle encouragement or letting them mirror your movements may also help.
Consistent Routines and Environments
Keeping the serving area free of distractions, such as the television, or windows with lots of action outside, may help them to focus on what’s in front of them, as will avoiding busy patterns on tableware or crockery.
Encouraging Socialisation and promoting independence
Encouraging people to serve themselves wherever possible will promote their independence and enable them to choose what they eat and when. Meals with loved ones will also help to prevent isolation.
The benefits of having care at home
Unlike residential care, domiciliary care is carried out in the comfort of your own home. Care at home from Helping Hands allows you to have the support you need without the disruption of moving into a care or nursing home.
How Home Care Can Improve Home Life
Having care at home from Helping Hands means you’ll receive fully regulated support from the nation’s most trusted home care provider. We offer dedicated support on both a visiting care and live-in care basis, tailored to your requirements, and flexible enough to change as your needs do. Our respectful and compassionate carers will support you with every aspect of your daily routine, not just at mealtimes, but throughout the day and night if you need us. Our skilled professionals come from all walks of life, and as we have 150 branches across England and Wales, you can be sure we’ve one near you. We go above and beyond on a daily basis to ensure you get to live the life you want to at home, so remember – with Helping Hands, your health is our priority.
Fully regulated Care and Support
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See what this means for youWe are a fully regulated serviceClosely monitored by an external regulatory bodyAt Helping Hands our care is fully-regulated
Independent inspections
Audits conducted by a regulatory body to give you peace of mind that we do what we say we will do.
Fully vetted and approved carers
Our carers are vetted and checked through a robust recruitment process which complies with the regulations.
Comply with regulatory standards
We have to comply with regulatory standards to maintain our registration, meaning our customers are reassured that they are receiving a high standard of care.
Standardised training across the company
Training for all carers and staff is in line with the Care Certificate, meaning our employees are trained to a nationally-recognised standard before they work unsupervised with our customers, providing a safe and responsive service.
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