Almost every elderly person wants to be in their own home for as long as possible. Their home holds special life achievements and represents an independence that no one wants to give up. But, is living at home the best option for an aging person? With aging also come concerns about safety, nutrition, health, and socialization. The impact of these concerns can be the difference between healthy independent living and the need for assistive services. If you are a family member of an elderly person living at home, consider how these concerns may impact you and your loved one.

Safety

The most common medical conditions affecting the elderly are hypertension (high blood pressure), Diabetes, and Heart Disease. These conditions lead to decreased physical strength and stamina and affect balance; and along with age-related vision and hearing problems can increase the risk for falls. Even in the absence of one or two of these problems, elderly persons may continue to complete daily chores using less than safe methods.

Nutrition

Anyone who lives alone knows how boring it is to cook for one (or two) people. The elderly are no different. But, for them, boredom may not be the only factor in lack of meal preparation. Mobility problems, memory impairment, inability to get to the grocery store for food items and even arthritis can influence meal preparation and impact nutrition. Poor nutrition can compound or even create health issues. Very often elderly will snack throughout the day rather than prepare nutritious meals, especially if they are eating alone. A nutritiously prepared meal combined with social interaction makes a meal more enjoyable and increases the likelihood that more food will be consumed.

Declining Health

Any person living alone, but especially the elderly, may not recognize both subtle and obvious changes in health and seek appropriate medical care. Many diseases like Parkinson’s, renal failure, or cancer require almost around the clock attention and care that many spouses, friends or family just cannot provide. Of additional concern is the failure to take medications at the right time or in the right dosage. These errors can occur even when a “medication system” is put in place by a spouse or family member. Sometimes even forgetting to bathe or groom on a regular basis can place an elderly person at risk to develop medical issues like urinary tract infections.

Socialization, Isolation, & Depression

Living alone at home, or even living with a spouse or occasional hired care giver does not provide enough mental and social stimulation. Study after study has shown that social isolation can be as detrimental to a person as smoking or obesity. Prolonged isolation can also lead to other problems like memory impairment or depression. These problems can greatly impact declining health, nutrition, and safety.

Many elderly today are adamant about living in their own homes despite their needs for certain services. These folks may need a great deal of support from family and friends to keep the disadvantages to a minimum. Even with intervention, the disadvantages may not be completely overcome and the emotional and financial burden on the family can be enormous. If you are a family member concerned about the care and well-being of a parent or other loved one living alone, you will need to consider the commitment it will take to maintain their “independent lifestyle.” The burden of care for your loved one can deplete your personal finances, disrupt your family life and increase stress for everyone involved. Before this becomes the situation, consider the option of placing your relative in a reputable retirement and assisted living community. These communities have professionals onsite who will monitor and respond to safety, nutrition, and health needs. They also provide many opportunities for recreation and socialization thereby reducing the likelihood of isolation, depression and declining health.

Making good nutritional choices is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. The foods that you eat, according to the article, “Dietary Guidelines for Chronic Disease Prevention,” by J. Shikany, may delay or prevent chronic diseases in later life and may potentially provide years of health, productivity and high functioning. What a bonus! Make good nutritional choices now and reap the benefits for a long time. To do this, you need to know what nutrients are essential and how to incorporate them into your diet. At Retirement & Assisted Living Communities of Retirement Unlimited, Inc., we provide a healthy variety of foods in our dining menu or you can use this information to prepare your own meals in the apartment kitchens in some of our retirement & assisted living communities.

Eating a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients may help reduce your risk for stroke, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The essentials to look for include: calcium, fiber, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and E. When combined, these nutrients can give you the benefits for healthy aging. Let’s take a look at each of these nutrients and what foods to find them. We’ll also give you a simple recipe for enjoying some of the nutrients.

•    Calcium is essential for bones and teeth as well as the function of muscles, nerves, and glands. Dairy products, of course, are good sources of this nutrient, but so are foods such as collard greens, soy beans, and sardines
•    Fiber comes in two forms: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber helps your cholesterol and insoluble fiber is essential for a healthy digestive tract. Good sources of fiber include beans, artichokes, pears, and wheat germ.
•    Iron provides red blood cells with what they need and helps your cells function in top form. Look for iron not only in red meat, but in lentils, lima beans.
•    Potassium helps your kidneys function in a healthy manner and regulates fluid retention. You can find potassium in bananas, potatoes, and dark leafy greens such as spinach.
•    Vitamins A, C, and E help your skin, keep fatty acids from oxidizing, keep teeth and gums healthy, aid in iron absorption and can protect against infections. You can find vitamin A in orange vegetables and fruits like sweet potatoes, carrots, mango, cantaloupe, and apricots. Vitamin E is abundant in dark leafy greens, red bell pepper, and papaya. And, of course, Vitamin C is found in all citrus fruits as well as red peppers and mangoes.

Here is a simple snack that you can prepare that is rich in many of the nutrients that we’ve described. This recipe was taken from the June 2009 issue of Cooking Light. Substitute any flavor of reduced fat yogurt in this recipe. For more healthy recipes for healthy aging, you can check out Cooking Light at www.cookinglight.com.

Blueberry-Orange Parfaits (makes 4 servings)
This snack comes together in a few minutes, if you purchase orange sections from the refrigerated part of the produce section. To make ahead, prepare parfaits and refrigerate, covered, for up to four hours; sprinkle with wheat germ just before serving. The oranges provide fiber, vitamin C, and potassium; yogurt provides protein, calcium, and potassium; blueberries provide fiber and vitamin C; and the wheat germ gives you protein, fiber, vitamin, and zinc.

1 ½ Tablespoons turbinado sugar
½ teaspoon grated orange rind
2 – 7 ounce containers reduced-fat plain Greek style yogurt
2 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups orange sections (about 2 large)
¼ cup wheat germ
Combine the first 3 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring until blended. Spoon ¼ cup blueberries into each of 4 tall glasses. Spoon about 2 ½ tablespoons of yogurt mixture over the blueberries in each glass. Add ¼ cup orange to each serving. Repeat layers with remaining blueberries, yogurt mixture, and oranges. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon wheat germ over each serving; serve immediately

If you prefer someone else to do your cooking for you, then explore our website and see what our communities have to offer. Contact the community closest to you by phone or e-mail or stop by for a visit. Take a tour, stay for a meal, and see what healthy choices Retirement Unlimited Inc. has to offer.