10 Senior Mealtime Challenges

Research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care^® network reveals 10 mealtime challenges for older adults. The following percentages refer to the number of seniors who believe these are challenges for older people who live alone. After each are tips for how to make the most of mealtimes for older adults who live alone, from the Home Instead Senior Care network and Sandy Markwood of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

1.      Lack of companionship during mealtimes (62 percent) Tip: If you can’t be there to dine with a loved one regularly, look for alterative options such as friends and neighbors. Check out special activities at churches and senior centers as well as the local Area Agency on Aging and Home Instead Senior Care resources.  

2.      Cooking for one (60 percent) Tip: Freeze most any type of leftovers including sliced and seeded fruit by placing it in plastic containers or freezer bags. Buy your senior healthier low-sodium dinners for one.

3.      Eating nutritious meals (56 percent) Tip: Buy fresh, when possible, or frozen foods including fruits and vegetables. Frequent affordable farmer’s markets in season. Your older loved one may enjoy perusing the racks of produce.  If your senior is able, help plant a garden.

4.      Grocery shopping for one (56 percent) Tip: Transportation can be a big issue for seniors. Contact the local Area Agency on Aging and Home Instead Senior Care business, or encourage your loved one to engage neighborhood support systems when possible.

5.      Eating three meals a day (49 percent) Tip: So many seniors are on prescription medications that must be taken with or without food. Coordinate the food plan with the medication plan. “Remember, Dad, to take this pill when you’re eating oatmeal for breakfast.”

6.      High expense of cooking for one (45 percent) Tip: Encourage shared meals when possible – your older loved one will get the benefit of reduced costs of meals as well as companionship. Check out your local senior center, which often offers affordable meals for older adults, as well as the home-delivered meals program, also known as “Meals On Wheels^®.”

7.      Relying too much on convenience food (43 percent) Tip: Encourage your older adult to meet with a nutritionist or talk with the doctor to learn how to read labels. So many older adults don’t know the foods that are good and bad for them.

8.      Loss of appetite (41 percent) Tip: Help older adults make mealtimes an event, which can make dining more appealing. Pull out a favorite recipe, help that older adult prepare a meal, get out the good dishes and decorate the table with real or artificial flowers.

9.      Eating too much food (38 percent) Tip: The bigger issue is eating too much of the wrong types of food. If you’re helping an older loved one with a shopping list or grocery shopping, encourage healthier choices.

10.  Eating too little food (35 percent) Tip: Plan a trip to a favorite restaurant for a special dish. If lack of food is an ongoing problem, check with your senior’s doctor to learn about supplemental products that could ensure an older adult is getting the proper nutrition.

For more information about the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, go to www.n4a.org. Learn about the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Craving Companionship^SM program at www.mealsandcompanionship.com.

Problems with Sleep Apnea May Date Back to Youth

Many seniors who suffer through sleepless nights in old age may find the root of their problem goes back to a very early age – when they were emotionally abused by their parents.

An analysis of data from 877 adults age 60 years and above found that early parental emotional abuse was associated with a higher number of sleep complaints in old age, according to a research article in an issue of the Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological and Social Sciences.

It was specifically emotional abuse rather than physical abuse or emotional neglect that was tied to trouble in getting a good night’s sleep.

The data was taken from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States. In 1995, approximately 3,500 adults responded to questions about their childhood. A decade later, they were asked follow-up questions about sleep, relationships and emotional distress. The study looked at the answers from those 60 and older.

During the second round of interviews, the participants were asked how often within the previous 30 days they had trouble falling asleep; woke up during the night and had difficulty going back to sleep; woke up too early in the morning and were unable to get back to sleep; and
felt unrested during the day no matter how many hours of sleep they had.

Emotional abuse was assessed by asking participants how often their mother and father insulted or swore at them, sulked or refused to talk to them, stomped out of the room, did or said something to spite them, threatened to hit them, or smashed or knocked something in anger.

Regardless of the root of your mom’s problems, one thing you can do to help put your mother at ease during the night is to encourage her to hire a professional caregiving service. CAREGivers^SM from the local Home Instead Senior Care^® office are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and prepared to assist an older adult any time, day or night. A CAREGiver can give you the confidence that your mother is safe as well.

For more about the study, go to http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/66B/3/307.abstract.

Table Talk: How to Get Mealtime Conversations Going

The shopping is done, and the meal is ready and on the table. Your work is complete, right? And now comes the fun part. You sit down to dine with an older loved one. But what is there to talk about? A senior’s world may have shrunk to the size of their four walls. Even so, mealtime conversations are an important part of the dining experience.

And sharing memories is one way to get the conversation going, according to Dr. Amy D’Aprix, a life transition consultant, author, corporate speaker, facilitator, coach, and an expert in aging, retirement and caregiving. “Sharing memories is a great way to deepen your relationship with an aging relative,” D’Aprix said. “But sometimes we all need help thinking of new and meaningful things to talk about.”

That’s why D’Aprix created Caring Cards^TM. This packet of playing card look-alikes features more than 50 questions on a wide range of topics that can help you engage a senior loved one in meaningful conversation. Featured below are two Caring Card questions and D’Aprix’s comments about ways that you can use them to start up table talk with older adults.

What are some of the most valuable things you learned from your parents?

Many of us enjoy remembering our parents and the impact they had on our lives. Whether our relationship with our parents was easy or difficult, or more likely a combination of both, most of us recognize that who we are as adults was at least partially formed by what we learned from our parents. This question gives seniors the opportunity to talk about some of the most impactful things they learned from their parents. Follow-up questions could include: How did your parents teach you about “X”? Why do you think it was important to your parents that you learned “X”? Do you think they learned “X” from their parents?

For example, if the senior mentions the “importance of hard work” as something valuable they learned from their parents, you could ask whether their parents worked hard and in what ways. You could ask if their parents required them to work hard as a child. You could also ask if their parents had to work hard as kids and if their grandparents taught them it was important to work hard. This question could lead to many questions about how much time was spent working versus leisure time, and whether the parents thought people who didn’t work hard were lazy.  

What was a major turning point in your life and how did it affect you?

As Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backward, but must be lived forward.” By the time they have reached their senior years, many older adults have had numerous turning points. Reminiscing about these turning points allows seniors to make sense of their lives and their choices, and to gain peace of mind now. Natural follow-up questions include exploring more fully one or more of the turning points the person mentions and asking more details about the importance of that turning point in their lives and how they felt after taking the particular path they took.

Other questions include asking whether they would take that particular path again knowing what they now know and how they thought their lives might have turned out differently if they had taken a different route. When exploring this topic, it is important to be sensitive to whether a turning point was emotionally difficult or had outcomes that were not easy. Allow the senior to reveal only as much as they are comfortable revealing without pushing too hard or probing beyond his or her comfort zone.

To order a complete set of Caring Cards, go to www.mealsandcompanionship.com.

Grandparents Could Unknowingly Supply Teens with Drugs

One in four high school students in the U.S. admits to having taken a prescription drug without a prescription, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). What’s more, prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem among 12 to17 year-olds. The number of teens going into treatment for addiction to prescription drugs has increased by more than 300 percent.

Particularly alarming is that the majority of youth are getting these drugs from family and friends. Here are the startling statistics from the CDC:

·         70 percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them from family and friends.

·         68 percent of households do not properly secure their prescription medications.

·         Studies show that unmonitored kids are four times more likely to engage in substance abuse.

·         The distressed employment market makes it harder for teens to find summer jobs, leading to more boredom, restlessness and free time.

·         A new study surveyed 2,500 high schoolers and reported that one in four admitted to abusing prescription drugs.

Tips for grandparents:

·         Safeguard all medicines by monitoring quantities and controlling access. Remove drugs from your medicine cabinet and lock them up.

·         Warn youngsters that prescription drugs can be just as dangerous, addictive, and lethal as street drugs. Studies show that teens dangerously view prescription drugs as "safer" to abuse than illicit drugs.

·         Properly dispose of old or expired medicines in the trash. Hide or mix them with cat litter or coffee grounds before throwing them away. Look for a drug disposal area in your area or a Mission Medicine event, sponsored by a Home Instead Senior Care office.

Lock Your Meds is the new national campaign from the National Family Partnership (NFP) to inform families that they are frequently the "unintentional suppliers" of prescription medications being abused by young people.

Grandparents can learn more about preventing prescription drug abuse at home this summer by downloading the MEDucation Kit from Lock Your Meds. The comprehensive kit teaches grandparents lessons about the problems of abuse and the solutions available for families.

To learn more about Lock Your Meds go to http://www.nfp.org/default.asp?PageNum=588.

The Loneliness Factor

Loneliness – it’s one of the most serious obstacles to good nutrition that your senior loved one could face. In the United States, approximately 40 percent of the population age 75 and older – 6.7 million people – lives alone, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These seniors face significant socialization challenges, particularly when it comes to lack of shared mealtime experiences.

“Who likes to eat alone?  Nobody,” says Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) – who served as expert source for the Home Instead Senior Care^® network’s Craving Companionship^SM program. “Meals are not just a matter of sustenance, but a social outlet,” said Markwood, whose members coordinate the popular home-delivered meals program, also known as “Meals On Wheels^®.”

“It’s how we come together as a family or a community. When you’re isolated from that opportunity it’s indicative of bigger challenges that person could be facing.”

The far-reaching impact of loneliness prompted the Home Instead Senior Care network to conduct a first-of-its-kind study* to measure mealtime routines, challenges and preferences of seniors age 75 plus who live by themselves in their own homes or apartments. 

This comprehensive study, which involved 600 interviews, provides evidence that increased opportunities for seniors to share meals with others will promote nutritional and emotional well-being. Key findings include:

·         Two of five seniors who live alone have at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health.

·         One in five seniors says he or she sometimes or most of the time feels lonely when eating alone.

·         Seventy-six percent of these seniors eat alone most of the time.

·         The biggest mealtime challenge for older people who live alone is lack of the shared family experience, including lack of companionship. 

·         Mealtimes last nearly twice as long when seniors who live alone share meals with others compared with when they eat alone.

·         A majority of seniors who live alone say they eat more nutritiously and the food actually tastes better when eating with others.

·         More than three-fourths of seniors say they wish their families shared more meals together.

·         The most common obstacle preventing these seniors from sharing more meals with others is that their family and friends don’t have enough time.  

As a result of this study, the Home Instead Senior Care network launched the Craving Companionship program to encourage extended families to bring back the family meal for the benefit of their seniors, especially those who live alone.

For more information, visit www.mealsandcompanionship.com. The program includes a variety of resources such as recipes and tips to help family caregivers make the most of mealtimes.

*The Home Instead Senior Care network completed 600 telephone interviews with seniors age 75 and older in the U.S. who live alone in their own homes or apartments. The sampling error is +/-4.0% at a 95% confidence level.   

Food Poisoning Can Threaten Seniors' Summertime Fun

Summer picnics are fun for all ages. But older adults should take special precautions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises seniors that it’s important to know that ready-to-eat hot dogs, lunch meats, and cold cuts may not be safe for them or other high-risk groups.

These and certain other foods can be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria, which causes listeriosis, a serious disease that primarily affects older adults, adults with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.

In the United States, an estimated 1,600 people become seriously ill with listeriosis each year and 260 die. Older adults are among the groups at higher risk for listeriosis. Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking, but some ready-to-eat foods, such as hot dogs and deli meats, can be contaminated after factory processing.

Take the necessary precautions to make sure you and your friends do not get infected. For older adults and others in the high-risk groups, CDC recommends the following tips and precautions when planning events:

·         Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, or other deli meats unless they are heated to an internal temperature of 165ºF or until steaming hot.

·         Do not eat refrigerated pâté or meat spreads from a deli or meat counter or from the refrigerated section of a store.

·         Do not eat soft cheese such as feta, queso blanco, queso fresco, brie, Camembert, blue-veined, or panela (queso panela) unless it is labeled as made with pasteurized milk.

·         Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole, or unless it is a canned or shelf-stable product.

For more information or assistance, CAREGivers^SM from the local Home Instead Senior Care^® office can help older adults with various household tasks including food preparation – a service that can help keep seniors safe. Mealtime companionship and assistance is among the organization’s most popular and requested services.

 For more about listeriosis and food safety, visit www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/listeriosis/ or www.foodsafety.gov.

Nutritional Risks: The Warning Signs

Two of five seniors who live alone (44 percent) have at least four warning signs of poor nutritional health such as eating alone, taking multiple medications and illness, according to research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care^® network.

“Nutrition is certainly a key factor to an individual’s overall health and well being,” said Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). “If someone is at risk, their health is impacted. When you see the warning signs, it’s indicative of a larger risk. Combine that with loneliness and you’re looking at increased mental and physical health risks.”

Following, from the Home Instead Senior Care network and Markwood, are warning indicators that a senior who lives alone could be in trouble.

1.      The loneliness. Who wants to eat alone? Not only are seniors at more risk of poor nutrition, loneliness can lead to depression, which could make problems worse. More than three-fourths (76 percent) of seniors who live alone eat alone most of the time, according to Home Instead Senior Care network research. Suggestion: Try to make sure your older loved one has companionship at home or in a congregate meal site.

2.      The multiple meds. Nearly three-fourths (71 percent) of seniors take three or more different medications a day, according to research. Suggestion: Talk to your senior’s health care team about how medications might be impacting your older adult’s appetite and discuss with them what to do about it.

3.      The lack of healthy staples. For a number of reasons, important staples for a good diet are not always found in a senior’s kitchen. Nearly half (46 percent) of seniors who live alone consume few fruits, vegetables or milk products, the survey revealed. Suggestion: In season, why not find an affordable, local farmer’s market. Talk with your older loved one about their favorite recipes – or yours – that incorporate healthy products.

4.      The illness. Many older adults are struggling with health conditions. Some don’t feel like eating as a result. Others – 31 percent in the Home Instead Senior Care research – say that an illness or condition has forced them to change the food they eat. Suggestion: Discovering favorite recipes from the recipe box and making mealtime a social event may help.

5.      The physical problems. A fourth of seniors who live alone – 25 percent – can’t always get to the grocery store any more, nor can they shop or cook for themselves. Suggestion: Your local Area Agency on Aging office has staff to help and your local Home Instead Senior Care office can arrange for a CAREGiver^SM. Try, also, to tap into neighbors and compassionate friends. If you know of older adults who live alone, cook extra at mealtimes and take it to them.

6. That smelly fridge. Check out expiration dates of food in the refrigerator when you’re visiting a loved one. Have you noticed an increase in spoiled food? Remember to check the freezer for outdated frozen items or foods that have not been packaged appropriately. Suggestion: Help a senior by packaging food in small portions and labeling in big letters with the date.
7. The suspicious grocery list. If you go to the store for Mom, and the list is mostly sweets, then she may be headed in the wrong direction with her diet. Suggestion: Help her put together a grocery list, reminding her of all the wonderful foods she used to cook for you. Make it a happy time of memories. Why not buy the ingredients and make that recipe together. 
8. Those important details. When you’re visiting a senior, check out things like skin tone – it should be healthy looking and well-hydrated – as well as any weight fluctuations. A loss or gain of 10 pounds in six months could be a sign of trouble. Suggestion: A visit to the doctor can help ensure your senior is healthy.
9. The empty cupboard. An emergency could trap a loved one home for days. Suggestion: Prepare by stocking back-up food, water and high-nutrition products such as Ensure^® in case a trip to the store isn’t possible.
10. The support. Isolation is one of the biggest threats to an older adult. Suggestion: If you can’t be there, develop a schedule of friends and neighbors who can stop by for lunch or dinner. Or call your local Home Instead Senior Care office to enlist the services of a professional CAREGiver.

For more information about the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, go to www.n4a.org. Learn about the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Craving Companionship^SM program at www.mealsandcompanionship.com.