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Tip- Nutrition

We asked our Care Management team: What is one nutritional tip you give to your clients? 

Here are some of their responses:

Shari: Hydrate. Hydrate. And hydrate more. Older adults need to hydrate more to prevent dehydration which many times leads to hospitalization.

Jennifer: Prioritize protein-to help maintain their muscle mass and strength. Muscle is the key to longevity!

Michelle: I recommend hydration! I will also refer to the client’s PCP on specifics. Not everyone can tolerate the same things. It really depends on their own personal health. For example- those with high blood pressure should avoid salty foods, someone with low blood pressure does not need to avoid it and in some cases the doctor will recommend something with sodium in it like soup or an electrolyte drink.

Katherine: Label and discard old leftovers!  A healthy, balanced diet doesn’t include spoiled foods, especially old, undated leftovers. Some seniors lose keen taste and smell senses and end up eating foods that make them ill.

Shannon: For clients with malnutrition I recommend to encourage eating  frequent, small meals and snacks, include supplements of vitamins and minerals, and make sure to choose nutrient-dense food and drink to improve calorie intake.

Linda: Drinking water and eating balanced meals is critical. Often times older adults skimp on the protein, it can’t be left out!

Nicole: I’m a Michael Pollan fan, and I think he said it best in The Omnivore’s Dilemma:  Eat food, not too much, and mostly plants. The “food” Pollan is referring to is unprocessed and does not come from a factory.