Getting old doesn’t mean your spirit is old and tired, but your body needs more help to do what it does best – to keep you alive and thriving. For those who have lived through a stroke, or cancer, the scars left from that traumatic experience can be long-lasting and even permanent. What you can do for your loved one who has gone through those tribulations is make accommodations. Hosting a dinner to spend time together as a family is great! Doing it in a way that makes your loved one feel included without feeling like a burden is amazing.
It’s also relatively easy to do so long as you know what accommodations to make and how to prepare. With this guide, you’ll know just how to get started:
Know the Consistency
Consistency of the food is one of the most important questions to ask. Many elderly people find it increasingly difficult to swallow and eat foods that are complex as they age. This can be a natural decline or occur as a side effect ofa stroke or cancer. The most common version of this issue is known as dysphagia.
When it comes to eating when you have this condition, consistency matters. You, as the host, can easily accommodate their needs by getting the taste-free SimplyThick gel thickener for drinks, so it’s on hand when your loved one stops by. This gel can be added by your loved one to their drinks and soups to match the consistency they need.
As for food, it’s important to know what IDDSI level they prefer. They may want soft foods, minced foods, pureed foods, or liquified foods. Depending on their needs, you may be able to make everyone’s meal accessible. Or you may need to liquefy each individual dish so that they can enjoy the taste individually.
Break your Meal into Courses
Get fancy! Breaking the meal upinto multiple courses not only elevates the dining experience you’re offering your family, but it also helps older people manage their stomach and any other issues – like their throat. You can also add long breaks between each meal to give the food time to settle and for conversation to have room to breathe. It is harder to serve meals in stages, yes, but it can actually help everyone enjoy the food hot instead of cold.
Make Sure Your Kids Know in Advance
Kids are curious, and they have questions. Your loved one may be happy to answer all those questions themselves, but if they’re not for any reason, know you should have the conversation with your kids before you host. This way, you can answer all those upfront and frank questions they have so it’s a normal occurrence once their grandparent or other elderly relative shows up. This is particularly important if you’ve only made soft foods or made accommodations to the entire dish. Your kids will notice, and if they don’t know why, they will bring it up. By doing so in advance, you can set their expectations the right way.
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