To the question Are grandparents like children? Tibisay Acosta, nutritionist at the Hogar La Ponderosa residence and comprehensive center for older adults, answers yes.
Well, when passing 60 years of age, which is the age when an individual is indistinctly classified as a member of the so-called third age, people not only need affective stimuli, but also demand more attention and require reinforcement. habits and daily routines, which allow you to lead a healthy life full of vitality.
Among those priorities to consider when caring for an older adult, food is among the first. Acosta at this point says that in the elderly “calorie needs decrease little by little, due to the reduction in the mass of active cells from the metabolic point of view”.
The other thing it explains is that people may have problems with teething, or neurological problems that generate depressive symptoms and cause them to lose their appetite. “Then there are a series of related activities to stimulate them and thus achieve their nutritional requirements.”
Additionally, it indicates that nutrition in the elderly “must be modified to ensure that they obtain the necessary nutrients from food and can lead a healthy life, from a nutritional, cognitive and comprehensive health point of view.”
The diet is made up of all groups
In the case of “Hogar La Ponderosa”, the guests (as they call their patients) who come directly from their homes have some neurocognitive problems, “and that is why they have decided to bring them with us; here we try to give them a balanced diet (which includes foods from the 5 basic groups, grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products and proteins), mainly proteins, to preserve the health of the tissues”.
It highlights that this balance includes carbohydrates, natural fats (avocados, olive oil, vegetable oils), minerals, vitamins and hydration. “This is important because following the age of 60, human beings lose the ability to feel thirsty, therefore, we must keep them hydrated throughout the day, to preserve the vital functions of the body.”
“Ideally, they should drink a glass of water before and following each main meal, one in the middle of the morning and another in the middle of the followingnoon.”
Why are they like children?
“Because you have to stimulate their appetite through preparations that are attractive to them. Presented in a showy, pretty and colorful way, let them see that it is a dish well served”.
How grandparents’ menus should be
It should consist of three main meals plus a snack, in addition to a pre-breakfast, since many of them start the day between 5:30 and 6 in the morning and while breakfast time arrives, which is at 9 in the morning, they spend many hours fasting; This pre-breakfast consists of a cup of oatmeal, which serves to stimulate the metabolism at the beginning of the day.
In Acosta’s opinion, the tastes of each one are taken into account and are considered within the possibilities of the menu of the day. “But, the majority eat everything, men are given a different amount than women. We have a physiotherapist who deals daily with stimulating the physical part with exercise adapted to the age and conditions of each one of them, which allows, together with a balanced diet, to guarantee a healthy lifestyle”.
Is there variation in the menu?
Ideally, a weekly menu planning is done, which is light in terms of texture, because there are foods that, due to their condition, they can no longer eat. They are prepared in the oven, parboiled. At breakfast they can serve you arepa with parakeet, jam and fruit juice, for example.
At mid-morning they hydrate them. At noon it can be a plate of meatballs, with rice and salad. At 4 in the followingnoon it’s time for snack: a chopped fruit, a fruit delicacy, cake, cookies, jelly.
Dinner is at 7:30 pm, it is also light to avoid sleep disturbances. It can be a vegetable or vegetable cream, an omelette, some crepes.
It is appropriate to offer them grains twice a week, since they are a source of protein of high biological value, rich in fiber, essential for motor processes and intestinal mobility.
And the free menu?
On weekends you can try to stimulate their memory with food, so they know it’s the weekend. Let’s try giving them hamburgers, hot dogs, pizzas, so that they feel that it is a different meal and that it is a day of sharing.
In this day-to-day life of the grandparents in the comprehensive center, birthdays are also celebrated. So in his routine there is no lack of cakes, juices and jellies. To find out more regarding what the multidisciplinary team at Hogar La Ponderosa offers, visit their Instagram account @hogarlaponderosa.
