One of the things that seniors struggle with if they’re living alone is eating healthily. Eating healthy can mean eating enough calories each day, following a particular diet recommended by their doctor, or just getting more fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. But no matter what “healthy” means to your mom or dad, they may need some help improving their diet.

There are many reasons why seniors tend not to eat enough or cook healthy meals for themselves. Some seniors hate eating alone, and eating regular meals just reminds them that they are alone. Others may have physical challenges that make cooking meals difficult and tiring.

Home care services can help. If your mom or dad has home care, their home care provider can make meals fun again. A home care provider can help your mom or dad cook their favorite meals and share those meals, too, so that meals are fun for them again.

Here are a few of the ways home care providers can help your mom or dad eat healthier:

Meal Planning

A home care provider can help your mom or dad eat better by helping them plan healthier meals. Together, your mom or dad and a home caregiver can sit down and talk about what your mom or dad likes to eat, what their doctor recommends, and other details that make it possible to plan delicious, healthy plans for your senior parent.

Grocery Shopping

Home care providers can help your senior parent with grocery shopping, helping seniors choose fresh, healthy ingredients while avoiding processed foods. Or, if your mom or dad finds grocery shopping too difficult, a care provider can do the shopping for them. That way, your mom or dad won’t have to rely on heavily processed foods that are easy to cook because that’s all they can manage.

Grocery delivery can be a game changer for seniors who want to eat healthy. A caregiver can help your mom or dad pick out exactly what they want from a shopping app and have groceries delivered or picked up for them.

Meal Preparation

Home care providers can prepare meals that are both nutritious and appealing. They can make it fun for your mom or dad to try new ways of cooking classic meals, experimenting with new cuisines, or trying new healthy foods they haven’t had before.

Having someone with them to help cook will make your mom or dad more likely to take an interest in nutrition and what they’re eating.

Education and Support

Caregivers who have experience with the nutritional needs of seniors can offer guidance on the benefits of various foods, encouraging seniors to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into their diets. This support can empower seniors to make healthier choices independently.

Monitoring Nutrition

Being actively involved in helping your mom or dad choose foods can also make it easier for a home care provider to identify any gaps in your senior parent’s diet. This can be important if your senior parent is diabetic or has another medical condition that is affected by diet.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Bonita, CA, please contact the caring staff at A Passion for Care today. Call (858) 798-5005

A Passion for Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, Encinitas, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, Point Loma, and surrounding areas.

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Pat Melzer

Owner at A Passion for Care

Like many people in the senior care business, founder Pat Melzer was motivated by personal experience to start an in-home senior service business in 2010. After watching chronic conditions, dementia, and surgeries take over the life of her once very intelligent and lively mother-in-law, Pat saw the enormity of the need for better in-home care. Drawing on her 23 years of experience in the computer industry as a software product manager, engineering manager and computer programmer, she decided to develop best practices to build an organization that provides truly excellent, personalized care. Throughout the company’s history, Pat has been personally and professionally committed to ensuring your loved one receives the quality care they deserve. With often heroic efforts by the staff and dedicated caregivers, the vision has become a reality to be very proud of.

Making the transition to a completely new industry brought the opportunity to learn and grow, which continues still today. Pat studied Gerontology in San Diego State University’s certificate program and became licensed as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), a Home Health Aide (HHA), and completed the California Certification Program for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCCFE) as a Certified Administrator. She presented workshops at Aging in America Conference four years in a row and served as Chair of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council 2019-2020 and was the education board member for several years. More recently, Pat became a Certified Senior Advisor and was a San Diego Business Journal “50 over 50 2022 Women of Influence Honoree”.

Pat and her husband Roland have lived outside San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley for over three decades. She has two children who are grown professionals and three grandchildren. Pat enjoys traveling to, and visits from, family and friends throughout the year. While at home in San Pasqual Valley, she and Roland enjoy peaceful views and exploring the surrounding valleys.

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