Good Nutrition is Important to Seniors’ Health

The National Resource Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Aging states that, “1 in 4 older Americans have poor nutrition.”  They explain that malnutrition puts them at risk of becoming overweight or underweight as well as cause weaken muscles and bones.  

Poor nutrition also leaves you more vulnerable to disease and makes it harder to manage the diseases you may already have such as heart disease and diabetes.  An unhealthy diet can even jeopardize a senior’s immune system and make them more susceptible to colds and flus.     

Furthermore, as many seniors experience a decrease in their appetite, they need to increase the nutrient density of their food, not necessarily portion size.  This means eating a well-balanced diet chock-full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients as well as more fiber.   Avoid foods high in processed sugars, saturated and trans fats, and salt.  Eating alone can also decrease a senior’s appetite so make meals a more social occasion and serve foods that taste as good as they look and smell.

At MorningStar at Bear Creek, an assisted living dementia care community, we recognize that good nutrition is vital to seniors’ health. Starting with having our own Executive Chef, our meals are largely prepared from scratch and include the freshest ingredients.  MorningStar’s chef even uses “super foods” such as acai berries, Omega 3 fats, dark chocolate, and leafy, dark greens. In addition, out of respect for some of our residents’ compromised abilities at the table, food is geared toward their needs.  Our delicious nutritionally-balanced meals include easy-to-eat finger foods as well as texture-modified pureed meat and vegetables. 

Family style meals shared by residents and team members encourage residents’ appetites as well as to provide any needed assistance with eating.  Many of meals include offering dishes from serving bowls and platters as a way to help residents connect to memories of family meals throughout their lives.  Please visit our website for more details on all of the amenities and services offered at MorningStar at Bear Creek. 

MorningStar at Bear Creek brings a unique vision to senior living with our mission statement “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. We are dedicated to creating a true home within an ideal setting and invite you to schedule a tour to see firsthand the best assisted living dementia care in Colorado Springs.

Source: healthline.com/health/healthy-eating-for-seniors