Overcome Elder Eating Challenges

Here are two tips that I have learned while caring for my mother in our home:

1.  This one helps with the mechanics of eating and helps maintain independence:

My mother has a wonderful appetite.  Her interest only wanes when she uses a fork to pick up food from a plate - especially when peas are on the menu.  I have watched her chase them around for agonizing minutes. I don't know if the reason is a little arthritis, declining coordination, eyesight, or something else.  It occurred to me one day to serve her meal in a large serving bowl, and give her a large spoon to use.  This transition has totally eradicated the frustrating "chasing" problem, and Mama is happily enjoying every last bite without assistance. She has never mentioned or complained about the change in container or implement.

2.  This one helps with the cost of food:

About half of Mama's dinner meals are built around a good quality frozen dinner - usually Stouffers.  Some of them are "too light" on the meat ingredient and "too heavy" on the sauce.  They often need a supplementary vegetable and have larger portions than a small person wants or needs at one sitting.  I have learned to make some important adjustments.

- For the roast turkey and chicken a la king dinners, I add cooked chicken, cut in cubes.  These prepared dinners have more than enough sauce and or stuffing, when mixed with the extra chicken, for two servings.  Every week or so, I cook a chicken breast, cut it up and store it in the freezer, so I have it when needed. This small change, plus the addition of a fresh vegetable has made two meals out of one and really lowered the cost per dinner to something very affordable.