Nutrition Important to Older Adults

Proper nutrition is vital to health aging. Look for these warning signs that you could be headed for trouble, from Home Instead Senior’s “Cooking Under Pressure” public education campaign:

Loss of appetite: If you have always been a hearty eater but no longer eat as you used to, it’s time to find out why. Underlying illness could be the root cause.
Little to no interest in eating out: If you have always loved eating out at a favorite restaurant but no longer are interested, dig deeper to determine the problem.
Depression: Change in appetite is a classic sign of depression. Be sure to follow up with a physician if you suspect depression may be a problem.
Sudden weight fluctuation: A weight change — losing or gaining 10 pounds in six months — is another sign that something could be amiss.
Expired or spoiled food: Check the refrigerator for expired or spoiled food. You could be saving food until it’s no longer safe. Make sure that all food is labeled, with the date, in large letters and numbers.
Skin tone: Observe your skin tone. If you are eating properly, skin should look healthy and well-hydrated.
Lethargy: If you have regularly been active and enjoyed taking walks but suddenly become lethargic, see a doctor. Poor nutrition could be to blame.
Cognitive problems: Seniors who live alone might forget to eat. If you suspect dementia, quick intervention is vital.
More than three medications: Medication can influence both appetite and weight. Check with your doctor to find out if your medications could be the culprit.
A recent illness: Illness or a hospital stay could make you lose interest in eating. Make sure you have reliable help at home.

Support in the way of companionship, and meal preparation and shopping assistance could be just what you need. Contact Home Instead Senior Care to learn more. www.homeinstead.com/665

Clutter Control an Important Part of Home Safety

While clutter is not a problem unique to seniors, conditions of aging including arthritis can lead to disorder and chaos. June is Home Safety Month, a great time to focus on cleaning up your home.
After all, too much clutter is a safety risk such as slipping on loose papers, threat of fire or the health effects of mold and mildew. Clutter might also make you uncomfortable to have guests in your home.
We suggest a three-step plan using three bins — one for the stuff you want to keep, one for donations and the other for trash. If you need a little help, why not enlist the assistance of a family member like a daughter or granddaughter. It could be fun activity and an event that will help you share memories with your loved ones. Here are some other ideas:
• Save only a piece of a dress to make a quilt or display in a shadow box. Scrapbooking and converting photos to DVDs are other ways to save treasured keepsakes without all the extra mess.

• Give unused gifts back to the giver or grandchildren.

• Buy a shredder to help you dispose of those unwanted papers. Recycle newspapers and magazines.

• Say “no” to free stuff and get off junk mail lists. (Go to www.dmachoice.org, www.catalogchoice.org, www.optoutprescreen.com for help getting off the lists.)

• If your family doesn’t want old photos, give them to museum, historical society, theater, library, church or synagogue.

Maybe what you really need is companionship. Make sure your stuff isn’t taking the place of people. Loneliness may also lead to depression, which also makes it difficult for seniors to get organized. Consider the services of a professional organizer and caregiver. CAREGiversSM from the locally owned Home Instead Senior Care® network would be happy to help you manage your home and keep you company.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care®, contact Jonathan Fry at 479-434-6960 or visit www.homeinstead.com/665. For more information visit www.cluttercreep.com.