The holidays are quickly approaching and that means it’s a great time to try and find more ways you can have meals with your senior loved one. Eating meals together is one of the best ways to spend quality time with your senior parent. And eating together makes it more likely that your senior loved one will eat regular healthy meals. Finding the time to eat together can be a struggle when you are juggling work, family needs, and caring for your senior loved one but with these tips and some creativity you can do it.
Have a Potluck Meal
Potlucks are a staple because they’re easy to do for everyone. Declare one meal each week a family potluck and have all the family members and friends who are close by drop by on that day for dinner with a dish to pass. Your senior parent can make their signature dish, with some help from a home care provider if necessary. Everyone will get to share some fun family time as well as some delicious food.
Do Some Meal Prep
Meal prepping can significantly improve the odds that your senior loved one will eat healthy meals everyday even if they live alone. But good meal prep also means that you can stop by to grab a meal with your senior loved one and not have to worry about whether or not there is enough food for you. A good rule of thumb for meal prepping is to prepare enough proteins in advance for each meal then prepare a bunch of side dishes that your senior loved one can choose from. If you meal prep like that when you stop by for a quick lunch you can grab any protein and side dish combo for yourself and have a good meal that you can prepare fast.
Get Some Home Care Provider Help
Home care providers help seniors with housework, medication management, and much more including meal cooking. If you have limited time to stop by and eat with your loved one let your parent’s home care provider know and they can work with your senior parent to prepare a delicious meal that you can enjoy with yours senior loved one even if you have a tight schedule. The home care provider can also help your senior loved one clean up so that you can go right after the meal if you need too.
Think Outside The Clock
Most people think about having dinner with senior loved ones as a way to share a regular meal. But there are two other meals in the day and some snacks too so you don’t have to limit yourself to only stopping by for dinner. Try stopping by for breakfast on a weekend or eating lunch with your senior loved one a few days each week on your lunch break from work. There are a lot of ways that you can work meals with your senior parent into your schedule if you use some creativity and wok with your schedule.
If you or a loved one are looking for experienced home care in Arlington, VA, contact SenCura at 703-880-2547. Providing in-home senior care in Northern Virginia.