Dietary Care for Older Adults
ALF Growth Solutions Inc.
Our vision is to help seniors in assisted living and memory care communities live longer, happier lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 86% of adults aged 65 and older have at least one chronic condition such as diabetes, respiratory ailments, and heart discomforts. For this reason, the diet of older adults is an important factor in reducing the risks of health problems.
Sarah Garcia, a dietitian for older adults at Assisted Living Locators Birmingham, emphasizes the importance of consuming foods with more nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. She also recommends that the intake of calorie-rich, processed, and high-sugar foods be limited or eliminated from diets, as they are counterproductive in achieving a balanced diet.
Although each person has different caloric and vitamin needs, a study conducted by the National Institute on Aging recommends the following vitamins and minerals for the diets of older adults:
How Your Assisted Living Facility Can Manage Residents' Dietary Needs
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are used to digitally manage the dietary details of each resident. Through this mechanism, nutritionists can have control over appropriate food intake, weight, and specific needs that each resident requires.
Another recommended alternative for monitoring how residents eat is through mobile applications that record how many meals are consumed per day, which foods, and at what time they are eaten.
In the ALF Growth Solutions application, you can find the Real-time Care Updates for Families system. This tool was designed to inform families about their loved ones' daily activities and allows for the recording of meals consumed throughout the day, which is a wonderful option to ensure that residents maintain a balanced and adequate diet.
Learn more about ALF Growth Solutions: https://www.alfgrowth.health/alf-growth-app/