Maintaining a well-balanced diet is often one of the first things that seniors tend to let slide, especially if they live alone. This is not surprising. Going grocery shopping regularly to get fresh produce can be challenging. Even if they have groceries delivered, cooking for one person can seem like a tedious chore. It’s so much easier to open a can, microwave store-bought frozen meals or make a sandwich. Unfortunately, none of these are healthy meal options and can cause a host of health problems in the long run. This can be particularly detrimental if the senior has been advised to follow a special diet for their existing health conditions.
If you’re worried about the nutrition of your aging loved one, the good news is most senior living facilities in Long Beach do cater to the different dietary needs of their residents.
These are some of the types of diets that many of these assisted living facilities offer on request.
Special Diets For Seniors With Allergies
Nuts, shellfish, dairy and gluten are just a few of the more common foods that many people are allergic to. Eating foods that contain any of these items can be life-threatening.
Most facilities take serious view of allergies and take precautions to ensure that special meals are prepared for residents with any type of allergy.
Pureed Foods For Seniors Having Trouble Eating Solid Foods
Certain health or oral problems may make it difficult for seniors to chew or swallow solid foods. A senior who is recovering from a stroke may have been advised by their doctor to eat only pureed foods.
This special dietary request is the easiest to follow as it simply involves grinding the foods into a pureed form before serving. Very few facilities would refuse to accommodate this simple refuse.
Soft Foods For Seniors On Restricted Diets
After a major surgery, doctors often advise their patients to go on a liquid diet first to reduce the risk of choking. After a few days of liquid diet, patients are advised to eat only soft foods before resuming their regular diet.
Seniors recovering from prolonged severe intestinal issues are also often advised to go on a liquid or soft-food diet for a while so as not to tax the digestive system.
Most senior living facilities in Long Beach would have no problem accommodating a soft-food diet request.
