Everyone has occasional constipation. However, seniors are prone to constipation because they aren’t as active as other age groups. Seniors also can have chronic constipation as a side effect of the medications they take. Dehydration, which is a problem for many seniors, can also cause constipation. Home care assistance providers can oversee that your senior is eating a healthy diet.
The health effects of constipation for seniors can be very serious. Constipation in seniors that is chronic can lead to bowel problems and impaction. Seniors who suffer from impaction may even need surgery. So seniors should try to make lifestyle changes and dietary changes that will help them avoid constipation. Drinking more water and moving more are two ways that seniors can avoid constipation.
Seniors and their home care assistance aides can also add more of these foods to their diets to help them have regular bowel movements:
Whole Grains
Home Care Assistance Cranford NJ – Foods That Can Help Seniors Avoid ConstipationWhole grains are packed with natural fiber which can help regulate bowel movements and maintain a healthy digestive track. Whole grain bread, oatmeal, brown rice, and barley are all easy-to-cook whole grains that are delicious.
Seniors can help regulate their digestive tract and get a delicious breakfast by putting some uncooked whole oats in the slower cooker at night with some milk and letting them cook overnight. In the morning seniors will wake up to a delicious hot breakfast that is packed with fiber. Seniors with home care assistance can have a home care assistance provider set up the slow cooker at night before they leave.
Nuts
Seniors who have diverticulitis or similar conditions may not be able to eat nuts. But, nuts are a great source of fiber and minerals. Some nuts like cashews have lots of healthy fat in them as well. Nut butters can work to stop constipation too as long as they are just nuts and have no added sugar or preservatives. Some peanut butter or almond butter on a piece of whole-grain toast is a high-fiber and high-protein snack that seniors will enjoy any time of the day.
Citrus Fruits
There are many health benefits that come from eating citrus fruits. Oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits are full of healthy Vitamin C and B vitamins as well as antioxidants. They are also packed with fiber that can help cure constipation. Seniors who are on medications should check with their doctor or their home care assistance provider before adding grapefruit to their diet. Grapefruit can cause a bad interaction with many of the medications that seniors commonly take.
Prunes And Figs
Prunes are well-known as a home remedy for constipation and they do work. But they don’t taste great. Seniors who need a little extra help but don’t want to eat prunes can substitute figs for prunes. Figs have the same benefits as prunes but they taste a lot better. Figs can often be found at natural food stores or high-end grocery stores even when they’re not in season. Home care assistance providers can help seniors find figs locally if they prefer figs to prunes.
Sources: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-foods-for-constipation
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/foods-for-constipation
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/0915/p500.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/constipation-in-elderly
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Home Care Assistance Services in Cranford NJ, call the caring staff at Helping Hands Home Care today at 908-418-4299.
After graduating from Seton Hall University with a BS in finance Helping Hands Homecare’s Owner / President, Robert D’Arienzo, went to work on Wall St. for six years. However, after Robert’s grandmother became ill with stomach cancer Robert and his family needed to find assistance in the home for her. After many trials and tribulations Robert could see that there was a great need for quality home care services here in NJ and loved the idea of being able to assist other families who were going through what his family went through with his beloved grandmother.
Thus, Robert had found his passion. After almost a year of preparation Robert opened Helping Hands Homecare in 2003. Robert wanted Helping Hands Homecare to focus on providing the highest quality of caregivers, exceptional customer service, and providing a service that familys could depend on in their time of need. Since then Helping Hands has assisted hundreds of individuals with the simplest of needs to more complex cases while preserving those standards set out many years ago.
Robert is a Google Verified Author
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