Assisted Living Facilities Ashland NE

With a growing population of seniors in assisted living facilities Ashland NE, there’s also a strong need to make sure that quality care is given to all residents every day.

Aside from giving them a safe environment and accessibility to care when needed, it’s also very important to make sure that they are properly nourished to maintain their health and wellness.

How Nutrition Affects Aging

Nutrition plays an important role in the aging process since inadequate nutrients in the body can lead to different diseases that speed up aging. Patients who also suffer from chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and diabetes and are not eating the right nutrient-rich foods will be at a higher risk for complications in the long run. This is why it’s very important to prepare meal plans for seniors in assisted living facilities Ashland NE that contain all the nutrients they need to stay healthy and well.

How Nutrition Affects Mental Health

Several studies also revealed the connection between proper nutrition and better mental health. According to experts, eating the right meals help to improve cognitive function, mood, and overall mental health.

For instance, complex carbohydrates help to boost the body’s serotonin levels, a chemical messenger that plays an important role in regulating mood and general mental health.

A lack of complex carbohydrates in the body can also cause serotonin levels to go down causing depression.

Nutrition Tips for Seniors in Assisted Living Facilities Ashland NE

Fortunately, most assisted living facilities Ashland NE have their own nutritionists to help them create nutritious meal plans for residents. But these are some of the most important tips for feeding seniors in these facilities:

Go for variety.

Creating healthy meals doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the joy of eating for seniors in assisted living facilities Ashland NE. In fact, mealtime should be a joyful activity for residents. This is why it’s very important to offer variety when creating meal plans to make sure that residents will enjoy their meals without sacrificing nutrition.

Portion control is essential.

Portion control is very important when preparing meals for seniors to make sure that they eat adequately but not too much. Plates should consist of four categories: grains, protein, vegetables, and fruits.

Choose healthy fats.

Seniors need healthy fats that help to keep them healthy. These fats can come from omega-3-rich fish, nuts, and avocados. This is why meal planning is important for assisted living facilities Ashland NE to make sure that residents eat complete healthy meals every day.

Of course, proper hydration is very important when it comes to maintaining the health and wellness of seniors in assisted living facilities.

So, staff should ensure they have access to drinking water to meet their daily water requirements of at least eight glasses. But it’s also important to consult their doctors to see if they don’t have any contraindications for drinking a lot of water since some health conditions could get worse with increased fluid intake.

Looking for excellent senior care in Nebraska? Click here to learn more about Richmont Senior Living!

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco