Page 36 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES

FEED SENIORS NOW by Lisa Carson

Good nutrition contributes to a superior quality of life for seniors.

At Comfort Keepers, we help seniors live healthy,
independent lives and promote senior nutrition
through our Feed Seniors Now initiative. 17 % of
all seniors in Texas are at risk of hunger; one in six
seniors struggles with hunger.
As seniors age and change, so do their
nutritional needs. Making sure those needs are
met makes a real difference in their quality of
life. Caregivers or family members should be fund drives to collect specific food items for the LMOW
aware of the signs and symptoms of hunger or malnutrition weekend meal program.
in older adults, which include the following:
Food items to be collected include the following: Instant
• Physical problems, such as poor wound healing, easy Cream of Wheat, single serving cereal boxes, goldfish
bruising, and dental difficulties crackers, pretzels, Beanie Weenies, individual Chef Boyardee
• Weight loss – Check with either a home scale or by entrees, fruit cups, non-refrigerated Jello and pudding cups,
transporting the older adult to the doctor’s office for weight peanut butter crackers, cereal bars, granola bars, juice boxes,
checks when the individual is unable to stand without soup, small cans of tuna or chicken, individual packages
assistance. of peanuts, small packages of chips, peanut butter to go,
individual mac & cheese, microwave popcorn, Ensure,
• Eating habits – Ask them to tell you where and when they Boost, or Glucerna.
eat, but don’t rely on self-reports alone. Since our caregivers
(the people we call Comfort Keepers®) often spend mealtimes Please contact Comfort Keepers (806) 687-7800 to
with seniors at home, they may have a better idea of normal help Feed Seniors Now.
eating habits.
• We 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.
• Medication regularity and food interaction –
Know what an older loved one takes and whether it 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.
Senior safety and
Nourishing seniors is an important part of maintaining
senior independence. Comfort Keepers champions senior wellbeing is what we do
nutrition in the community through the Feed Seniors Now
food drive. In-Home Senior Care Services
• Personal care • Dementia and
Comfort Keepers of Lubbock is partnering with Lubbock Alzheimer's care
Meals on Wheels (LMOW) to feed seniors on the LMOW • Companionship
weekend meal program; 43% of LMOW clients are on and housekeeping • Safety solutions
the weekend meal program. These seniors have no other • Respite care
means to obtain weekend food other than what is provided
through Lubbock Meals on Wheels. Throughout the month (806) 687-7800
of September, Comfort Keepers of Lubbock encourages 2517 74th Street, Lubbock, TX 79423
businesses, organizations and churches to hold food and Uplifting In-Home Care | ComfortKeepers.com

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