For one reason or another, your dad seems to be giving up on eating well. He's relying more on takeout or fast food. He has frozen pizzas all the time, and you're worried about his health. How do you and his home care aides  get him to follow the guidelines his doctor offered about focusing on fresh produce, whole grains, and calcium-rich dairy? 
 
Talk About Shopping 
 
As you age, it gets harder to read the fine print on food labels. Your dad's doctor asked him to watch his sodium intake. He'll struggle to choose items with no added salt or low enough counts if he can't read a label. It's time to discuss having someone tag along on his grocery shopping trips and read the labels for him. 
 
Your dad should also learn how to stick to his budget while also choosing quality ingredients. Dried beans contain many essential nutrients, and they're affordable. His family caregiver or home care aide can help him make these decisions. 
 
Create Meal Plans in Advance 
 
You ask your dad what he wants to eat all week. He asks for foods that he's not supposed to eat anymore. He wants a sausage pizza, burger and fries, macaroni and cheese, and ramen. 
 
With each of these, he can have them with a few alternations. Instead of a traditional pizza crust, make pizza dough with whole grain flour or make a cauliflower crust. For the burger and fries, make a turkey burger and make baked sweet potato fries. Make ramen from scratch. 
 
If you come up with healthier takes on his favorite meals, he still gets the meals he wants. He's just enjoying a different spin on them. Make up the weekly meal plan and create the shopping list from that plan. It makes it easier to cook the meals when ingredients are available and thawed. 
 
Research Meal Preparation and Home Care Services 
 
Your dad may need someone to cook for him. If he struggles to chop, slice, dice, and mince ingredients due to arthritis pain or medication side effects, it helps to have someone else make his meals and snacks. 
 
Ask him why he's relying on takeout, fast food, and frozen meals. Once you better understand his frustrations with meals, you'll know where he needs help. He wants someone to read the recipe and help him follow the steps. He might need a caregiver to do the prep and let him do the cooking. 
 
Once you have discussed having someone cook your dad's meals and prepare his snacks, come up with a list of questions everyone in the family has. Once you've jotted down those questions or concerns, call our home care agency to ask them. You'll learn more about pricing, services, and more as you talk to the home care specialist. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Wilmette IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.

It’s the season of gift-giving and money-spending and what seems like a never ending list of people to shop for and things to do. If you or your senior who is receiving home care are looking for ways to cut down on the spending or give more meaningful gifts this year, we have a list of some ways to help you achieve that, while still celebrating with your loved ones like usual.  

Use photos 

Using old or new photographs of your senior or their loved ones is a great and unique way to make memorable gifts that will be cherished by members of your family forever. You can put them into an ornament, a gift like a mug or a coaster, or just frame some special family photos that your senior hasn’t seen in a while but that would be sure to make them smile.  

Use your talents 

Does your senior have any special talents that could be used to make personal gifts for friends and family this season? If Grandma or Grandpa who are receiving home care enjoy knitting or crocheting, drawing or painting, woodworking or any other special craft or hobby, help them come up with ideas on how they can use their talents to make cost-saving and special gifts to give to the family this year.  

Set rules 

If you like the traditional way of gift buying and giving, but are afraid that the spending limit gets to be too much, go ahead and be proactive by letting the family know that this year there is a spending limit. Often seniors are on a fixed or limited budget, but still love the idea of showering their loved ones with holiday gifts. By setting a limit, they can still be involved in the joy of giving gifts with a little less strain on their wallet.  

Draw names 

Another way to still give gifts but save a considerable amount of money is to draw names. Instead of every person in the family buying gifts for one another, which can quickly add up in the spending department, you can put everyone’s names in a bowl and take turns drawing them out. When you draw a name, that’s the only person you buy for, so instead of receiving numerous gifts, each person receives one personalized gift just for them. You can keep it a secret or announce the names as you draw.  

Nix gifts altogether 

If buying gifts isn’t especially important to you, or you just can’t afford it this year, consider making a fun guideline this year where everyone has to hand-make presents. These can be as simple as a hand-drawn or written card, a wreath for the window or door, or a book of coupons for things such as a shoulder massage, a home-cooked meal, or lunch with your senior or other family member. 

Another idea is to do a family night in lieu of gift giving, where you can pick a theme such as movies and popcorn, baking together in the kitchen, or a game night. This way, the family gets to be together while making memories that will long outlast any gifts that would normally be given.  

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Wilmette IL, contact the caring staff at Gentle Home Services. Call today (800) 860-9823.