Sometimes as a senior, they adopt bad habits and you may wonder if those habits are okay. For example, as your elderly loved one gets older they may start eating less and this starts to naturally mean they skip breakfast. How do you know if this is healthy or not? The truth is if you have health concerns a doctor should be recommending how much to eat and when and senior home care providers can help ensure a senior follows those instructions. Your loved one may be fine skipping breakfast or eating breakfast later on in the morning but everything they eat should be carefully monitored with the help of senior home care.
Here are some pros and cons of eating breakfast for seniors.
Not Eating Can Trigger a Migraine
The truth is your loved one probably goes to bed earlier and wakes up earlier, but there is still a long period where they are not eating food in between meals. As they get hungry and they don’t pay attention to those hunger cues it can cause other problems and discomforts. They may experience headaches or migraines from the lack of food and this is a reason why a doctor may want them to eat breakfast every day.
They May Need to Take Medication With Food
A reason many seniors should not skip breakfast is because they need to take medication first thing in the morning and usually with food. This doesn’t mean that a senior has to fill up right away, but it does mean they may need to eat eggs and toast to go with their medication. Having a light breakfast and a snack later on can help them maintain energy levels throughout the day and save their stomachs from being upset.
Skipping Breakfast May Make a Senior Moody
Have you ever heard of the term “hangry”? This is when a senior’s mood might turn foul or negative because they are hungry. If your loved one regularly skips breakfast they may suffer from a bad mood. Or you may think they keep waking up on the wrong side of the bed! The easiest way to change that mood is by fueling their body with a nutritious breakfast.
Eating Breakfast is Good Fuel
One of the best ways to start the day off right is by fueling your body. Seniors need to maintain energy throughout the day so they can move around and stay as independent as possible. Food provides nutrients that help energize the body, repair damage, and keep a senior feeling good. The healthier a senior eats the better they will feel. If you think your loved one might be low on certain vitamins and minerals they need to go to their primary care doctor to get blood work done. When you get the results you can help your loved one find food they need to refill on any nutrients they may be missing.
Breakfast Can Help a Senior Focus
If seniors are hungry throughout the day or start their day off hungry, they may not be able to focus on really important tasks. A good way to allow them to focus on important things later in the day is by starting the day with a healthy breakfast. If your loved one needs more help at home it’s time to look for the right senior home care.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Senior Home Care Services in Philipsburg PA please get in touch with the caring staff at Quality Health Services. Call (814) 251-9044
Quality Health Services is a trusted non-medical senior care provider in Punxsutawney, Bellefonte, Jefferson, Brockway, Brookville, Clearfield, St Marys, Emporium, Philipsburg, and Dubois PA areas.
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