Healthiest Summer Foods for Seniors

Barbecues and picnics are on the schedule and the days are as warm as ever. Even better, with summer comes a bounty of fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables. Even if your older loved one does not join in on cookouts or parties, you can share some of the season’s greatest treats with them at every meal. Many of the summer’s most popular foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, essential for senior health. 

If you’re on a mission to improve life for your older loved one, try sharing a tasty and healthy meal with them. Here are some of the list-topping healthy treats that you can find in your local grocery store or farmers’ market this season:

Watermelon. This fruit is a summer favorite that is not just tasty and sweet, but it is also low in fat and rich in necessary nutrients. Per pound, watermelon has greater levels of lycopene than virtually any other vegetable and fruit. This antioxidant, commonly found in tomatoes, is linked with fighting off heart disease and cancer. Even more, watermelon is high in potassium, which can be helpful for those suffering from a potassium deficiency. To top it off, this fruit also provides lots of vitamins B6, A, and C.

Iceberg lettuce. Packed with alpha-carotene, an antioxidant, iceberg lettuce is a healthy powerhouse for your salads. Alpha-carotene is turned into vitamin A in the body, which helps promote eye health. Even more, it could help reduce a person’s risk of fatality from conditions like heart disease or cancer. Iceberg lettuce also offers lots of vitamin K, which is known to help fight osteoporosis and even regulate clotting in the blood.

Seasonal spices. Barbecues rely on family recipe sauces and rubs. But they can do more than make a meal even more tasty, especially if a senior’s sense of taste is reduced. Spices can also help them ward off diseases. Turmeric, for example, has lots of curcumin, which is linked with fighting off Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and even cancer. Cinnamon, another barbecue favorite, can promote reduced blood sugar and lower cholesterol and triglycerides, which is highly valuable for those with Type 2 diabetes. 

Party dips. Summer dips, like salsa and guacamole, offer powerful health promoting compounds. Salsa, made mostly of tomatoes and vegetables, can help an older loved one reach their recommended daily intake of vegetables. It can even act as a great source of antioxidants, like lycopene. Avocados, which are a staple in guacamole, are rich in minerals and vitamins that can be wildly healthful for your older family member or friend. 

Berries. Berries, particularly strawberries and blueberries, are linked with warding off Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to their high levels of antioxidants and free radical-fighting compounds, they can even stave off mental decline by an entire 2.5 years. And chances are, during the summer season these berries are more affordable and readily available than at any other time of the year.

When providing quality senior care to your older loved one, nutrition is absolutely crucial. As summer is in full swing, look to nature for some of the most powerful, healthy, and tasty treats that can promote health and wellness in those who matter most to you.

Tips for Incontinence Care while Traveling

Summer is prime time for taking a vacation with the whole family. But what if your older loved one copes with incontinence? There are lots of ways you can help make the trip easier on your elderly parent or friend. And with a little preparation, they can enjoy the trip to its fullest. When it comes to care for elderly loved ones, children or friends need to take special needs into consideration. Here are some great ways to make traveling with incontinence easier, so your loved one can vacation without the worry.

Bladder Training

Consider introducing your elderly loved one to bladder training practices. Consider having him or her talk with their physician about tips and methods. Some common techniques include:

Practicing timed voiding. This refers to visiting the bathroom at a certain time, rather than when the body says to “go.” Your loved one might try visiting the restroom whenever possible, and at certain hours of the day, whether or not they feel like they have to eliminate then and there. 

Practice Kegels. By strengthening the pelvic muscles through Kegel exercises, your older loved one can work to prevent urine leakage. These exercises are effective for both men and women, and they can be done virtually anywhere. They involve tightening the muscles used to start and end urine flow for a few seconds, then relaxing for another few seconds. 

Stop and think. An overactive bladder comes with the sudden onset of feeling like you have to urinate. There is a natural tendency for people to immediately rush to the bathroom. Rather than giving in, your older loved one might be able to pause and focus on what they are really feeling. By focusing and practicing a few pelvic floor contractions, people often feel a reduced need to go to the bathroom, giving them more time to reach the restroom without worry. This is especially helpful while on long car trips, when a bathroom is not readily accessible. 

Medications

Certain prescriptions may help control the symptoms of an overactive bladder. Doctors could prescribe certain drugs that alleviate symptoms, but they do not cure the condition. When providing care for seniors prior to a trip, consider offering to visit their doctor with them. Learn more about these medications, and if they could help make the vacation easier on your loved one. However, these medications can take approximately two weeks to become highly effective, so the prescription regimen should begin before the vacation. 

Proper Supplies

Even with prevention techniques and medication, it is also a good idea to bring the right supplies in the event of an accident. Pack absorbent pads and a plastic bag to hold soiled clothing or used pads. Always pack away extra pairs of clean undergarments and clothes, too.

Choose Foods and Beverages Carefully

Some foods or drinks can irritate the condition. Providing personal elder care is a very individual task, and it is important to work with your loved one to discover what foods or drinks exacerbate the problem. During a trip, avoid stopping at restaurants that specialize in such goods, and try to find refreshments that work for everyone on the vacation. 

Even more, avoiding water and beverages in hopes of reducing the need to urinate could actually backfire. Dehydration makes urine much more concentrated, which could irritate the bladder lining and even trigger spasms. Rather than skipping water, be sure your loved one stays hydrated to reduce this risk, too. 

Taking a vacation should be fun for the whole family. By preparing in advance and working with your older family member or friend to find what works best for them, you can make them more comfortable and create an environment that everyone will enjoy.

Unique Gift Ideas for Seniors This Father’s Day

Father’s Day is June 15 and it’s just around the corner. But finding the perfect gift could be difficult—especially if your dad is a bit older. He may not need a new tie or a new set of tools, as those just aren’t relevant to his life anymore. Rather than buying a gift that will never be used, consider how you can show him how much he means to you with a special present or gesture this holiday. 

If Your Dad Lives at Home

While the best gift you could give is your own time, there are lots of other presents you can offer, too. For a dad who is still living in his own home, consider doing something for him that he cannot do on his own. Perhaps he cannot physically accomplish a task, or a project is not within his budget. No matter the circumstances, consider what services might help make his life a bit easier, like hiring a dog walker, a handyman to fix something up around the house, or a gardener to spruce up the lawn. 

If your dad cannot justify spending money on things he needs or wants, maybe a special gift card to his favorite barber, deli, or car shop would suit his taste. Think about what he needs or would enjoy, and think outside of the box. 

Another way to express your love is to install home safety devices for him. If he could use some extra stability, consider offering to put in grab bars in the bathroom and anti-slip strips in the tub. Showing your concern for his safety will likely be a gesture your dad will cherish. 

If Your Dad Lives in Assisted Living

If your father has moved into a senior care facility, you can promise to visit more frequently. You may also consider making “coupon books” for special activities together. Coupons might include taking a Sunday drive together, vouchers for going to his favorite restaurant, or tickets for other goods or activities that your dad can redeem. 

Another special gift might be to bring more of “home” to his new life in long-term care. Have a professional take a nice family portrait. Frame it nicely and hang it for him in his room. Consider special homey things that you could bring to him to make him feel more at ease and settled in.

If Your Dad is Affected by Dementia

More than half of all Americans over the age of 80 are impacted by dementia of some form. This common senior health concern can make it difficult to connect, especially if your father does not remember his history or recognize his children. But, there are many things you can do to help stimulate his memory and give him comfort. Research shows that the sense of smell is most closely related with memory. If your father was a hunter, camper, or avid outdoorsman, he might enjoy the smell of freshly mowed grass, leather, or pine needles. Consider putting together some potpourri that reflects some of his oldest pastimes. If he was a woodworker or car fanatic, he might find comfort in the smell of wood shavings or tire rubber. 

Father’s Day is all about honoring, respecting, and comforting your father. By spending some extra time together, and putting in some added effort, you can show him how special he is and celebrate all he has done for you and your family.

The Surprising Link Between Berries and Alzheimer’s

Free radicals and inflammation could increase the risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. But, research has shown that berries can help reduce the risk or delay the onset of such conditions. And since the summer season is in full swing, now is a great time to head out to the farmers’ market or produce section of your local grocery store to stock up. 

Providing care for elderly family members begins with setting them up for success. Start by making sure they eat lots of whole, natural foods like berries, because research shows that this can make a big difference. 

The Best Berries to Fight Free Radicals

When providing dementia care, Cedar Falls families should consider the devastating effects of free radicals on mental health. Experts correlate these elements with declined cognitive function. Help your older loved one fight off free radicals with these powerful berries. 

Acai Berry. This is a dark purple berry that is rich in antioxidants. Experts suggest the berry could help reduce the destructive nature of free radicals, too. Acai berries are packed with minerals and vitamins, and they can even help promote heart health and prevent blood clots, too. They can also support blood circulation and even stunt the aging process.

Blueberry. This common berry is a great source of antioxidants. In fact, recent research has shown that eating enough blueberries and strawberries can reduce the onset of dementia by a full two and a half years. The berry also provides a variety of vitamins and minerals such as K and C, as well as manganese. The vitamin B found in blueberries helps support energy and can work to fight off free radicals, too. 

Cranberry. The cranberry is known to help prevent bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract and stomach lining. It can also help promote eye and heart health, too. Because it is so rich in antioxidants, the cranberry is also a powerful tool in warding off dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, as well. 

Goji Berry. Thanks to its immune boosting properties, the goji berry can do wonders for promoting overall health. It can also help protect the retina for overall eye health, and improve liver and kidney function. And since this berry is also rich in amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it is a must-have berry when eating to prevent dementia. 

Why Berries Can Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

Strawberries and blueberries are two of many berries that are incredibly rich in flavanoids and antioxidants. They also possess a multitude of anti-inflammatory and free radical fighting properties. Because science has suggested that inflammation and stress can lead to the development of dementia, these attributes make berries an important part of senior care and dementia prevention. 

One study followed approximately 16,000 women over the age of 70 to monitor their mental health. The results showed that those who consumed the most strawberries and blueberries delayed mental decline by up to two and a half years. 

When supporting your older loved one and helping them be the healthiest version of themselves, consider looking to berries this summer. They are a readily available resource, just waiting to be enjoyed.