Today’s seniors demand more out of senior living, from housing options to activities and amenities, including dining options and food quality. At Buckner Villas, we understand the importance of food for meeting nutritional and social needs. We also recognize the challenges of offering meals that meet various personal and health-related preferences and requirements. Our team of registered dieticians and professional chefs work collaboratively to create menus that appeal to all residents.
Call 512.580.9882 to learn more about Buckner Villas’ extensive health and wellness programs, including senior nutritional counseling. Our commitment to comprehensive care is why we are the premier choice for senior living in Austin.
Recognizing Nutritional Challenges in Senior Living
Effectively managing nutritional challenges in senior living is a team effort that requires collaboration and open communication between residents, medical providers, dietary staff, and culinary staff. At Buckner Villas, we understand that family members often play a crucial role in caring for their older loved ones, and they should be included in the nutritional counseling process to ensure a comprehensive understanding of their loved one’s unique needs.
While there are general guidelines for a healthy diet for seniors, consistently meeting their nutritional needs is a fluid process that changes based on factors that include:
- Medications and potential interactions
- The development of new illnesses
- The progression of chronic illness
- Changes in dental health
- Loss of tastebuds and sense of smell
- Slowed metabolism and digestion
- Changes in physical abilities, including mobility, fine motor skills, and swallowing
Regularly monitoring residents’ weight, health markers, and food and beverage intake is essential to assessing nutritional status and making dietary adjustments when indicated. Regular meal times can help improve seniors’ appetites because their bodies become accustomed to eating at or around the same time.
How to Address Nutritional Challenges in Senior Living
Dietary restrictions and specialized diets are common in senior living. Managing these, in addition to personal food preferences, while maintaining state and federal nutritional regulations is daunting. Senior nutritional counseling programs often rely on electronic health records to track and share information effectively.
Common types of diets that need to be addressed in senior living include the following:
- Texture-modified – Residents with chewing or swallowing issues require different food textures, including pureed, liquified, soft, bite-sized, minced, and moist.
- Reduced-sodium – For residents with high blood pressure, diets focus on naturally low-sodium foods and avoid added salt, which reduces fluid retention and helps regulate blood pressure.
- Renal – Residents with kidney diseases follow a renal diet that limits salt, phosphates, and potassium and recommends small amounts of protein at a time.
- Diabetic – This diet maintains blood sugar levels by focusing on lean proteins, healthy fats, and high-fiber carbohydrates.
Many senior living residents also follow other specialized diets based on personal or cultural preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, Keto, Kosher, and Mediterranean. At Buckner Villas, we encourage healthy eating with a focus on lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat dairy, healthy fats, and fresh fruits and vegetables. We also encourage residents to limit processed foods, fried foods, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and empty calories.
Call to Connect with Buckner Villas for Help with Senior Nutrition
Senior nutritional counseling helps identify residents’ dietary needs and create an eating plan that allows them to enjoy the foods they love while ensuring they get the nutrients necessary for leading active, healthy lives.
At Buckner Villas, our registered dieticians work closely with residents, medical providers, and our professional culinary team to create exciting menus that promote healthy eating. In conjunction with our other health and wellness programs, nutritional counseling fosters well-being, allowing clients to live their best lives.
Call 512.580.9882 or use our secure online form to connect with our team and schedule a visit today.