When people think of proper nutrition, they tend to think of dieting—but for seniors, the problem is much more frequently about getting enough food.
From impaired coordination and fatigue to joint problems, many seniors face practical difficulties that make cooking and eating hard for them. On top of that, the physical changes that come with aging can make it harder for them to enjoy meals, and they often have to miss out on their favorite dishes for health reasons.
There’s good news, though: There are quite a few resources available to help with nutrition for elderly people in Franklin and Nashville. Here are some of our favorites.
How to Help Seniors in Franklin and Nashville With Nutrition
Many seniors have trouble meeting their nutritional needs, but Franklin and Nashville have a wide range of great resources to help. From healthy, ready-to-bake prepared meals to free nutritional coaching and counseling, here are some of the best ways to help your loved one get the food they need in the Nashville area.
- Stock Their Kitchen
Even seniors who love cooking aren’t always able to do it every day. From prep work to cleanup, making a delicious meal can often take hours of effort, most of which requires a lot of manual dexterity, as well as a decent amount of strength.
One of the best ways to ensure seniors have healthy, nutritious meals day in and day out is to eliminate the preparation. Since the pandemic, restaurants and delis like Miss Daisy’s Market have been offering complete frozen meals ready to bake. All your loved one needs to do is pop it in the oven.
When buying frozen meals for a senior in your life, don’t worry about overdoing it. We recommend stocking them up with as many options as can comfortably fit in their freezer.
The more variety you can offer, the more likely that one of their prepared meals will appeal to them on any given night.
- Plan Some Meals
In addition to practical difficulties like mobility and transportation, many seniors have trouble motivating themselves to eat for health reasons. As we age, we naturally become less able to detect when we’re hungry, and our taste buds become weaker, all making eating a chore.
That’s why one of the best ways to help your loved one meet their nutritional needs is to find them healthy meals they can enjoy eating. That means doing a little research—and there’s nowhere better to start than the Brentwood Library’s extensive selection of cookbooks. Here’s how:
- Find 2-3 cookbooks that focus on meeting specific dietary needs, and 2-3 more centered around cuisines your loved one enjoys. (A book that hits both categories is even better—if you find one, grab it now, and consider purchasing a copy later.)
- Note a few promising recipes from the cookbooks with foods they’ll like.
- Read through the special-needs cookbooks and think of some ideas for how to modify existing dishes to meet your loved one’s dietary needs. Go heavy on the seasonings—seniors’ weakened palates can make ordinary dishes taste bland.
- Go over your modified recipes with your loved one to see which ones appeal most.
- Try the recipes out! Don’t be afraid to experiment and make modifications to find what works and what your loved one likes best.
- Get Community Support
As a family caregiver, it can feel isolating to ensure that your loved one is getting the food they need, but you’re not alone. The State of Tennessee’s Aging Nutrition Program provides a wide variety of resources and services for both seniors and family caregivers to make sure older people in Tennessee can get regular, healthy meals as easily as possible.
The Aging Nutrition Program takes a direct approach to feeding seniors by simply providing them easy access to healthy meals. They serve group meals open to anyone 60 and older on weekdays at zero cost, at over 200 locations across the state. They also have volunteers bringing home-delivered meals to older people who can’t easily leave home. Whether your loved one prefers group lunches or hand-delivered meals at home, both options are a great source of social connection as well as nutrition.
In addition to meals, the program also helps seniors and their families with nutrition in a variety of other ways, such as nutritional education and counseling and help with groceries.
To get help from this program, just contact the state Area Agency on Aging at 1-866-836-6678, and they’ll redirect you to the Franklin branch.
Find Help With Nutrition for Elderly People in Franklin, TN
Between practical barriers, difficulty enjoying meals and restrictive diets, it can be hard for seniors to meet their nutritional needs—but it’s a lot easier with the resources available here in Franklin. From cookbooks and pre-prepared meals to direct assistance from the community, Franklin offers plenty of ways to help your loved one eat right.
If your loved one needs a little more assistance with meals, FirstLight Home Care of Nashville and Franklin is here to help. Our dedicated caregivers can help with every part of nutrition, from picking up groceries and preparing tasty meals to assisting your loved one with the physical act of eating.
Want to see how our caregivers can help? Contact us today.
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