Page 54 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2018- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Good Nutrition

Superior Quality of Life
FOR A

One in six seniors struggles with hunger. At Comfort Comfort Keepers of Lubbock is partnering with Lubbock
Keepers, we help seniors live healthy, independent lives Meals on Wheels (LMOW) to feed seniors on the LMOW
and promote senior nutrition through our Feed Seniors weekend meal bag program. These seniors have no
Now initiative. other means of obtaining weekend food other than that
provided through Lubbock Meals on Wheels. Throughout
As seniors age and change, so do their nutritional needs. the month of September, Comfort Keepers of Lubbock
Making sure those needs are met makes a real difference encourages businesses, organizations and churches to
in their quality of life. Caregivers or family members hold food & funds drives to collect specific food items for
should be aware of the signs and symptoms of hunger or the LMOW weekend meal bag program.
malnutrition in older adults:
Food items to be collected are: Instant Cream of Wheat,
Watch for physical problems such as poor wound single-serving cereal boxes, gold fish, pretzels, Beanie
healing, easy bruising and/or dental difficulties. Weenies, individual Chef Boyardee, fruit cups, Jello
cups, pudding cups, cheese crackers, cereal bars, granola
Keep track of weight loss either with a home scale or bars, juice boxes, soup, small cans of tuna or chicken,
by transporting the older adult to the doctor’s office individual packages of peanuts, small packages of
for weight checks when the individual is unable to chips & peanut butter to go, individual mac & cheese,
stand without assistance. microwave popcorn, Ensure, Boost or Glucerna.

Pay close attention to seniors’ eating habits and
ask them to tell you where and when they eat, but
don’t rely on self-reports alone. Since our caregivers
(the people we call Comfort Keepers®) often spend
mealtimes with seniors at home, they may have a
better idea of normal eating habits.
Suggest family members visit during mealtimes,
which can improve a senior’s consumption. If a
senior lives alone, make sure you know who is
buying his or her food.
Know what medications an older loved one takes
and whether they can affect appetite and digestion.
Use the resources available (including your
pharmacist) to check for drug nutrient interactions
or possible side effects of prescribed medications.
If there are medical questions regarding nutrition,
medication, and health, Comfort Keepers suggests
that seniors, their family members, and other
caregivers speak with doctors about tests to help
identify chronic malnutrition or other nutrition-
related problems.
Nourishing seniors is an important part of
maintaining senior independence. Comfort Keepers
champions senior nutrition in the community
through the Feed Seniors Now food drive.

54 Lubbock Senior Link