Make Sure Your Mom Doesn't Eat Alone

How many of your mom’s meals involve her eating by herself? Your mom may live alone, but she shouldn’t be eating every meal alone. It impacts her well-being. Consider these facts about eating meals alone and about hiring home care providers to be there with her.

People Who Eat Alone Eat Faster

When a person eats alone, they tend to eat faster. As the digestion process begins when you chew your food, a rushed meal can increase the risk of indigestion. Studies find that people who eat faster suffer from other issues like obesity and high blood pressure.

Obesity and high blood pressure heighten the risk of certain chronic health conditions. People who are overweight have an increased risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis.

Another concern with a rushed meal is that your mom could choke on foods she isn’t chewing enough. If she’s alone and choking, would she be able to get help? Studies find that the elderly are among the largest group of people who experience food-related choking deaths. It can be safer to make sure someone is with your mom while she eats a meal.

Dietary Needs May Go Ignored

Your mom is eating alone again, and she can’t see the point in cooking a healthy meal for one. Instead, she heats a can of soup or stew. Both options can be extremely high in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugar.

If you look at the average nutritional contents in canned beef stew, you’ll find there tends to be around 6 grams of saturated fat, 3 grams of added sugar, and close to a gram of salt in just one cup, which is about half of a can. Will she stop at just half the can? It’s better to make it from scratch and control the ingredients and additives.

Takeout and Delivery Can Impact Her Monthly Budget

Another problem with eating alone is that many older adults don’t want to cook if it’s just them. Instead, they’ll order something quick and easy like pizza delivery, Chinese takeout, or fast food. With services that bring restaurant meals to the home, your mom may start spending more money on less healthy foods than on healthy ones.

Hire Home Care Aides to Cook for Her

Hire caregivers to cook for your mom. Her caregiver can talk to her about the foods she wants to eat each day, plan a shopping list, and join her on the shopping trip. Her caregiver can cook those meals, prepare her snacks, and make sure she’s not alone while she eats.

Home care aides are available to sit with your mom while she eats. She has someone to talk to while she eats. That slows her eating, improves the digestion process, and aids her mental health. Talk to a home care agency to make the arrangements.

Sources: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211103140138.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24003082/

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care Services in Boulder CO, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home today at 303-255-4071.