Encouraging Older Adults to Eat

Harry's Home Care provides visiting or live-in services for individuals in all New York City boroughs. The staff at Harry's Home Care includes qualified professional nurses and aides, who offer support for medical needs as well as daily activities such as eating.

When an older adult seems resistant to eating or is eating less than usual, a caregiver's first step can be to visit a doctor. A thorough examination can determine whether the person has a health concern or medication reaction that is inhibiting appetite, and if anything can remedy this problem. Potential dental problems are also a potential cause to investigate.

If there is no clear medical cause for lack of appetite, the problem may be emotional or cognitive. Experts suggest making mealtime a positive social experience, in which caregiver and patient can connect with one another over food preparation as well as the overall eating experience. The social aspects of eating may be made stronger if the caregiver involves the patient in the preparation, table setting, and other accessible activities related to dining.

Caregivers should also check to make sure that the food is to the patient's liking. This is particularly crucial if the patient has dementia, as individuals with this condition may find it difficult to communicate that they do not like something. Patients may also struggle with letting others know that the act of eating is difficult, and so caregivers should be watchful of difficulties with utensil use and avoid foods that are difficult to cut or chew.

Finally, caregivers can support good eating habits by making mealtime a part of the patient's daily routine. Many people have times of day when they are more or less hungry, and scheduling meals around these times can help to ensure that a patient eats enough.

Incontinence Support Tips for Patients and Caregivers

Through Harry's Home Care, qualified professionals offer both medical and daily living services for those who need help living at home. Harry's Home Care provides a variety of supports, including assistance with toileting and continence.

Although inconvenient and often embarrassing, incontinence is a common challenge among older individuals and those with certain medical issues. A caregiver must deal not only with the practical implications of the issue, but also the emotional. It is important for the caregiver to be calm, relaxed, and understanding about the situation, even when the inevitable accidents happen, so that the patient does not feel ashamed.

Another part of the caregiver's role is to help the person avoid accidents and messes whenever possible. A schedule for toileting can often help, particularly if it is informed by an understanding of how often and when the person tends to urinate or defecate. Such a schedule can also help the person to practice bladder control.

Many people also benefit from pelvic floor exercises, which help to strengthen the muscles responsible for controlling urine. Caregivers can help patients to find these muscles by asking them to stop the flow of urine in the middle of the stream. Then, once the patient is off the toilet, he or she can work these muscles by tightening and relaxing them.

Meanwhile, individuals who are incontinent may feel better wearing protective pads and being close to a toilet whenever possible. For some people, this may mean keeping a portable commode in the bedroom, so that sudden urges can be addressed immediately.