If your senior lives alone and is struggling to eat complete, nutritious meals, one of the best ways (and most enjoyable) is to start them on a regular schedule of eating at least one meal a day with someone else. That might seem easier said than done, but if you can take a few steps to provide some company while your loved one enjoys his meals, you’ll help him eat better and feel better in no time. Companion care at home services can help.
The Health Benefits of Sharing a Meal
There are a lot of wonderful benefits that come along with enjoying a meal together, no matter what your age may be. But for seniors, who are often especially isolated and have lost a lot of friendship and family connections, finding someone (or several people) to enjoy at least one of their daily meals with is especially beneficial.
Companion care at home providers can regularly be their for your loved one at meal times, throughout the day, and for activities.
Some of the health benefits of sharing a meal with another person are:
Social Connection
One of the most noticeable benefits of eating with someone instead of alone is the social connection that your loved one will get to make with that person. It’s a chance to be seen, heard, and share stories. It helps a senior feel less alone in the world.
Mental Stimulation
Because of the social connections made during a meal, the brain is also getting a good workout. Your senior needs to be able to have a conversation with back-and-forth ideas, process new information, and use their memory to draw upon topics of discussion.
Healthier Eating
Ask almost anyone who eats alone a lot, and they’ll state that it seems like it’s too much work to make a healthy meal when it’s just for one person. It seems much easier to heat a frozen meal, order a pizza, or pick up some carryout. Shared meals open up the opportunity to make a fresh meal and share the chores like prep and clean up.
Increased Feelings of Well-Being
Eating better, sharing time with another, laughing together, all of these parts of a meal can help your senior feel better in many ways – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Who’s Coming to Dinner?
The hardest part of this quest might be finding reliable companions for your loved one to enjoy a meal with, especially if he still lives alone in his own place. You want to have people who are enjoyable to share a meal with and reliable and will be there when they say they will.
Family members and friends can fill in a lot of the gaps by simply agreeing to share one meal once a week with your loved one. They can make it part of a routine (every Sunday night is dinner at their home), or they can review each week and pick a day or two each week.
You can also often find community meals that your loved one may like joining. Some places of worship have shared meals once a week, and some senior centers do the same. They can be a great way for your loved one to make new friends.
If your loved one is homebound, having someone help with companion care at home by sharing a meal with him is a great avenue for connection. Companion care at home professionals will provide consistent, caring, and reliable meal companionship each week.
If you or an aging loved one needs Companion Care at Home in Davis, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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