Residents of assisted living in Roanoke, VA are given access to a senior catered dining program that helps them fulfill their daily nutritional needs. There are specific elderly nutritional needs that must be met to help assisted living residents lead a much healthier retirement. Apart from a daily intake of greens, other nutritional needs that an older adult requires include fiber, water, potassium, magnesium, vitamin D, calcium, and unsaturated fats. Find out how assisted living helps residents fulfill their daily nutritional needs.
Special Diets
Some older adults need to follow a special diet to ensure that they get to maintain their health and prevent any further deterioration. For family caregivers, they may find it overwhelming to prepare special dishes to cater to their older loved one’s unique nutritional needs. For assisted living residents, they are served three nutritious meals a day, freshly prepared by an in-house chef. The well-balanced meals are rich in nutrients and can cater to their dietary restrictions, if any.
Excellent Communication
Assisted living team members document residents’ health records along with their individual nutritional needs. They practice excellent communication which enables the in-house chef to always be kept in the loop about any dietary restrictions and special menu requests of residents. Different assisted living communities make use of different systems to ensure the requests are incorporated during each meal service. For residents with allergies or those with illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure, a senior catered dining program will help them maintain their health.
Assisted Living Special Diets and Dietary Options
Whether it is preparing plant-based meals or low-sodium dishes, assisted living communities provide a wide variety of choices for residents. In-house chefs make use of a hands-on approach to ensure residents get to savor delectable meals that are nutrient-dense. A vegan diet is just one of the many dietary options that residents can expect to enjoy in an assisted living community. Other common diets and options include:
- Allergy-Friendly Menu – The availability of gluten, nut, and dairy-free menu options can help accommodate residents with certain intolerances. Food allergies and sensitivities are taken very seriously and team members will practice precautions to prevent cross contamination during food prep.
- Low-Sugar/Diabetic Menu – In America, nearly 30% of the elderly population live with diabetes. For residents with this disease, they can enjoy a controlled-yet-diverse meal plan that provides them with enough nutrients without compromising on flavor.
- Low-Sodium Menu – Sodium helps our body maintain proper hydration. However, for residents with high blood pressure or kidney disease, too much sodium in their food may harm their health. Assisted living residents will be served whole foods and fresh ingredients.
- Texture-Specific Menu – Assisted living residents can also enjoy pureed food should they have difficulty in chewing and swallowing. The pureed food is rich in nutrients to help them fulfill their daily nutritional needs.
Feeding Assistance
Independent feeding may be a challenge for some older adults. At an assisted living community, residents will have access to feeding assistance to ensure they actively participate in every meal service to prevent malnutrition, dehydration, and unintentional weight loss.
