Your dad is undergoing surgery. Studies show that malnutrition is common in older adults after surgery. More than half of older surgical patients suffered from malnutrition after the surgery in one study. It was especially prevalent in patients who’d undergone emergency procedures. As soon as you can, talk to his surgical team. Pass on this information to his home health care providers. Find out what his dietary restrictions will be after his surgery. Make sure he’s stocked up on the foods he can eat.

These are the questions you should ask. 

Will He Be Taking Any Prescriptions? 

If your dad is on prescriptions, you need to have a list of them. Go over the foods and beverages he can and cannot consume while taking those medications. If he’s not supposed to eat or drink any dairy, make sure he has non-dairy alternatives that meet his nutritional needs.

Your dad’s medications require him to avoid dairy, but he cannot survive without his morning coffee. Stock up on non-dairy creamers. If he’s told he cannot have acidic foods for a while, make sure you haven’t bought citrus fruits and tomato-based sauces.

Are the Dietary Changes Permanent?

Your dad is having his gallbladder out. What does his doctor say he should avoid going forward. He should work with a dietitian to learn how to make meals that avoid restricted items like whole-fat dairy, fatty meats, and fried foods.

Will He Need IV Nutrition or Feeding Tubes for Now?

He may go home with an IV line for nutritional supplements or have a feeding tube inserted until he’s recovered enough to eat independently. You may not be comfortable caring for it. You may be told you shouldn’t care for it and that your dad needs home health care services for now.

Contact a Home Health Care Provider for the Help he Needs?

Can your dad get help with his diet without leaving his house? It’s challenging to get him out of the house following his surgery, so how can he get the help he needs without going out? Talk to his doctor about home health care services.

Home health care nurses can come to his home and assist with tube feedings and IV nutrition. They can check and fix issues with feeding tubes. Nurses make sure there’s no sign of infection where the feeding tube is inserted.

If he needs help with dietary changes, nutrition experts will work with him and the rest of the family. To make arrangements, talk to his doctor and then call the agency.

Sources: https://medcraveonline.com/MOJS/nutrition-and-the-elderly-surgical-patients.html 

If you or a family member are in need of hiring Home Health Care Services in Pompano Beach FL, call the caring professionals at Star Multi Care today at (954) 870-4770. Providing service in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Deerfield Beach, Delray Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Lauderhill, Margate, Pompano Beach and Tamarac.

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Stephen Sternbach

CEO at Star Multi Care Services

With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sternbach has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Star Multi Care Services since 1987. After the sale of the New York and New Jersey operations of Star Multi Care Services, Sternbach brought the company private where he remains President and CEO of this 40-million dollar company. With Sternbach at the helm, Star Multi Care Services employs more than 650 employees, in six offices throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.

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