While most family caregivers know there’s a relationship between a healthy diet and preventing a number of age-related health issues, including dementia, many likely overlook these unique superfoods. Next time you’re at the grocery store, pick up the following items for your aging loved one.
1. Dark Chocolate–Covered Coffee Beans
Recent research shows coffee beans can reduce a senior’s risk of dementia by up to 65 percent, so you might consider encouraging your loved one to have a cup of joe with breakfast every morning. While drinking coffee often means ingesting a lot of extra calories if it’s consumed with cream and sugar, eating a handful of roasted coffee beans, even ones covered in dark chocolate, can offer the same health boost minus the extra calories. Dark chocolate is also full of powerful antioxidants that protect the brain from free radicals, making dark chocolate–covered coffee beans a great brain-boosting snack as well.
Seniors with mobility limitations or health conditions may find it difficult to shop for groceries and prepare meals on their own, which can result in not getting proper nutrition. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of elder care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
2. Sardines
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to diminish the chance of developing dementia. While most people already know salmon is a good source of these key nutrients, sardines are a lesser-known source of these fatty acids. Since approximately 100 billion neurons are composed of omega-3 fatty acids, consuming a sufficient amount can protect the brain from cognitive decline.
A professional caregiver with training and expertise in methods of cognitive stimulation can be a wonderful asset for seniors. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care. Edmonton families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
3. Falafel
Many beans and legumes, including garbanzo beans, are an excellent source of potassium, magnesium, folate, and iron, making falafel, a Middle Eastern dish made primarily of ground chickpeas, an ideal meal to protect senior brain health. These nutritional elements promote efficient neuron function and reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia care. Edmonton seniors can benefit greatly from the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to promote cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. CTM is included at no additional charge with any of the in-home care plans provided by Home Care Assistance. To learn about our premier in-home care plans and how they can help your loved one, give us a call at (780) 490-7337 today.