Elder Care in Delray Beach FL
One of your primary goals as a family caregiver is to help your parent stay as healthy as possible as they age in place. There are many ways that you can do this, but one of the easiest and most effective is to make changes to their diet that can help them to manage health concerns that they currently have, or to ward off other concerns.
October 3 through 10 is No Salt Week. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to find out more about the health benefits of cutting down the salt in your aging parent’s diet, and how you can make this transition simpler and more palatable for them.
Some of the potential health benefits of putting down the salt shaker when you cook your parent’s foods and when they eat, and teaching them not to choose prepared or packaged foods that are high in salt include:
- Controlling blood pressure. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common issues of later adulthood. Eating a diet that is high in sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure and all of the serious health complications that can arise due to this hypertension, including stroke. According to the American Heart Association, reducing the amount of salt that your aging parent eats can cut their risk of suffering high blood pressure by nearly 26 percent.
- Protect cardiovascular health. Guarding your loved one from hypertension is an important part of protecting their heart health, but this is not the only way that trimming salt can protect them from cardiovascular problems. If your parent is suffering from congestive heart failure, excessive salt can be devastating to their health. This sodium can cause them to retain more fluids, putting further stress and strain on their heart and worsening their condition.
- Cut down on the bloat. Consuming excessive sodium can cause your parent’s body to retain fluid, contributing to bloating. This is not just uncomfortable. When your parent deals with excess bloating they may not feel hungry and not eat the proper foods to keep their body functioning at its best. This may also cause them to not want to drink as many fluids, potentially contributing to dangerous dehydration.
Starting home care for your aging parent can be an exceptional way to help them to live a healthier lifestyle, including eating a better, more beneficial diet throughout their later years. This in-home senior care services provider can help your parent to understand the guidelines and limitations that the doctor has put forth for them so that they can help them to make better decisions. They can also provide reliable transportation to the grocery store, help your loved one select the right foods, and assist with meal and snack preparation so that your parent can gain maximum benefit from the nutrition that they give their body. While these changes might seem overwhelming to your loved one at first, the personalized support and care of a home care provider can guide them through and help them to take control over their own health.
If you or a family member are in need of elder care in Delray Beach, FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing service in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Weston, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City, Lighthouse Point, and Wilton Manors.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/salt-sodium
http://www.livestrong.com/article/279132-low-sodium-diet-benefits/
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