Can Seniors Fight Back Against Losing Their Sense of Taste?

By Care Street Home Care Staff | August 9, 2024 | Comments Off on Can Seniors Fight Back Against Losing Their Sense of Taste?
Home Care Assistance in South Brunswick NJ

Home Care Assistance in South Brunswick NJ

It’s extremely common for aging adults to experience a change in many of their senses over time. One that can be particularly upsetting is when they start to experience changes in their sense of taste because it affects their enjoyment of so many things. There may be some things that seniors can do to fight back at least a little against losing their sense of taste and home care assistance can be a lot of help.

Pay Attention to Oral Care

Good oral hygiene does so much for seniors. Regular brushing and flossing helps to prevent problems like gum disease, tooth decay, and plaque buildup. Regular dental checkups help dentists to spot potential problems that seniors can address quickly.

Check Expiration Dates on Food

Sometimes seniors start to have more trouble keeping up with little details like whether food is still good to eat or not. Home care providers can help them to check expiration dates on food and make sure that the food is safe to eat. Caregivers can also make sure food is stored safely to keep it fresh and tasting its best.

Switch to Herbs and Spices for Flavor

As seniors experience reduced sense of taste, they may need to try seasoning their foods differently. Instead of adding salt or sugar, which can have negative health impacts, branching out and trying a variety of new herbs and spices is a great way to go. Home care assistance can take over the cooking for seniors, helping them try new flavors.

Make Meals a Social Event

Sometimes the sense of taste isn’t as much a problem as other factors are. If seniors are spending a lot of time, including meal times, alone, they may need to make meals a more social event. Having home care providers there gives seniors someone to talk with and spend time with as they eat. Food can be a lot more enjoyable, even if it’s the same meal they’ve eaten before.

Experiment with Presentation

Texture and presentation makes a big difference with food, too. Even if flavors are different for them now, seniors may find that they enjoy different textures. If the meals are presented well and are attractive in general, this can also help them to get around the flavor changes they’re experiencing.

Encourage Hydration

When seniors are having trouble with their sense of taste, they may change their eating habits and their hydration habits. This can very quickly lead to dehydration, which can further impact the sense of taste. Staying hydrated, with water and hydrating foods, can make a huge difference for aging adults.

Monitor Side Effects from Medications

If seniors are taking medications, it’s important to look at the side effects for those medications. Some of them affect how foods and beverages taste. The dosage may need to be adjusted or a different medication may be just as effective while not having side effects that change the sense of taste.

Make Meals Rich in Nutrients

Most importantly, seniors need to be eating foods that are rich in nutrients. Foods that are full of minerals, vitamins, and other necessary nutrients keep seniors nourished. Experimenting with different vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins may help seniors to land on foods that they wouldn’t have tried in the past.

Staying healthy is so important for seniors as they age and nutrition is a huge part of meeting that goal. But as their senses of taste change, this can be more difficult for seniors. Home care assistance can help seniors put solutions in place that help them enjoy what they eat.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care assistance in South Brunswick, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.

Care Street Home Care Staff
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