How to Help Your Elderly Loved One Cope with a Low-sodium Diet

When your elderly loved one first hears that she needs to reduce her salt intake, you’re not likely to hear a positive response in return. But the good news is that switching to a low-sodium diet doesn’t have to be a bad thing and it shouldn’t necessarily be difficult, either. Here are some tips that you can use.

Avoid Packaged, Processed Foods

You probably already know that for all their convenience, packaged and processed foods are not the best choice for a loved one on a low-sodium diet. The reason is that salt and sugar are what companies use as preservatives. Avoiding or at least limiting these types of foods makes an immediate difference.

Explore Other Flavors

Salt is only one way to flavor your loved one’s food. Other flavoring ingredients, such as herbs, are just as powerful. Your loved one may not be as accustomed to some of those flavors, however, so she may need some time to adapt.

Read Labels at the Store

It’s a good practice in general to make sure that you read all of the labels on everything that you purchase at the grocery store. You’ll start to become familiar with other names for salt and piece together all the varieties of ways that salt can hide in your food.

Ask Questions in Restaurants

When you and your loved one go out to restaurants, read the menu carefully but don’t be afraid to ask questions about how the food is prepared. You can also request that the restaurant go lighter on the salt or use different seasonings if possible to accommodate your loved one’s low-sodium diet.

Get Meal Preparation Help

If you don’t have time to revamp your loved one’s meals, there’s still hope. Ask other family members if they can help you with meal planning, preparation, and even grocery shopping. If you’re still short of help, don’t forget about hiring senior care providers. They’ve got a lot of experience helping family caregivers and elderly loved ones sort out new eating plans.

In the end, you’ll need to give the switch time. Your loved one won’t magically love her new way of eating overnight.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering in-home senior care in Glenwood, MN, please contact the caring staff at Alternative Senior Care today. Providing Home Care in Central Minnesota and Surrounding Communities. Call us Today (320) 352-3350.