Monday, June 10, 2013

Senior Care Asheville : Nutrition and Memory - Enhancing Cognitive Function through Diet


By Jim Smeaton
When it comes to food when providing senior care, it is important that seniors look at their meal plan like fuel; the food that your elderly loved one eats is what will allow their body to function properly. While a healthy diet cannot guarantee overall wellbeing, it is certain that a body that has access to the right vitamins and nutrients will be better able to maintain a higher degree of health. Surprisingly to some, this idea extends well beyond the physical and into the mental. The home care professionals at Always Best Care of Western NC, providing Senior Care in Asheville, Hendersonville, and surrounding western North Carolina communities, explain that, when it comes to keeping cognitive function—and, by extension, memory—as sharp as possible, it is important that elderly individuals stick to a healthy diet.
Here are some of the ways in which you can make certain that your loved one gets the nutrition they need to keep their memories on point:[1]  
  1. Make sure that your senior does not skip meals. It can be quite easy for individuals who do not have home care providers to overlook eating, particularly if they have memory loss, if they are very busy, or if they have a difficult time preparing meals. Skipping meals can deprive the body of the calories, vitamins, and minerals it needs to function properly, and as such it can lead to decreased activity in terms of cognitive function and memory.
  2. Refrain from completely cutting carbs out of your loved one's diet. Weight gain is a concern for many individuals as they age, so your senior may be watching the carbs that they eat in order to manage their weight. But the truth is that the body needs carbohydrates to function properly, as these foods turn into glucose during the digestion process—and glucose is what fuels the cells in the brain. Instead of cutting carbohydrates completely, help your senior choose complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, instead of processed, simple carbs.
  3. Don't restrict caloric intake too drastically. While it is true that individuals of all ages need to monitor their consumption of calories, it is also true that they need these calories to fuel their bodies—and to keep the brain running. If too few calories are consumed individuals may experience short-term memory loss.

The elder care professionals at Always Best Care of WesternNC understand that keeping your loved one's memory sharp is a priority. As such, these senior care providers encourage you to keep these tips in mind when helping your loved one create a weekly meal plan.




[1] http://voices.yahoo.com/how-nutrition-affects-memory-2356812.html


Senior Care in Hendersonville: Improving Memory - How to Help Your Senior


Memory loss is a natural part of the aging process, but this doesn't mean that it is easy to cope with. Furthermore, there are actually a few things that seniors can do to stave off memory loss and strengthen their ability to make and recall new memories. The home care professionals at AlwaysBest Care of Western NC, serving Asheville, Hendersonville, and surrounding western North Carolina communities, encourage you to assist your elderly loved one in the following ways:[1]

  •  Challenging Mental Capabilities: Basically, the brain needs to be used in order to keep cognitive function (including memory) as strong as possible. By engaging in new, fun mental activities, your senior can strengthen their memory while learning new ideas and having a great time. Some wonderful tasks your loved one may be interested in include learning a new language, playing an instrument, or putting together a challenging puzzle.
  • Getting Enough Sleep and Exercise: The brain is a physical part of the body, and as such it is important that your elderly loved one takes care of their body in order to best maintain the strength of their brain. Sleep is important, as it provides a time for the body to recover and rejuvenate after a long day. Additionally, exercise creates a healthy body that allows the brain to work optimally.
  • Eating a Well-Rounded Diet: "Brain food" is a term that applies to the items that support healthy mental activity. Omega 3s, green tea, fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates all encourage brain health and stimulate mental function (which includes memory). In addition to adding these substances to your loved one's diet, limit the consumption of saturated fats and calories (within a healthy range).
  • Encouraging Social Activity: Interaction with other people is key in keeping the mind sharp. Social activities allow your loved one to interact with individuals who share their interests while creating meaningful relationships. Laughter, which is beneficial to brain health because it stimulates so many areas of this organ at once, is often a side effect of a fun social gathering.
The home care professionals at Always Best Care of WesternNC  also recommend limiting stress levels, as long-term stress can cause damage to the cells in the brain as well as the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory. These elder care providers encourage you to reach out to professionals if you need assistance creating a memory improvement plan for your loved one.

Finding the right care is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Jim Smeaton  and the professionals at Always Best Care of Western North Carolina at (828) 989-7263 or visit their website.



[1] http://www.helpguide.org/life/improving_memory.htm