It doesn’t matter if Mom was a Betty Crocker or Dad was the king of grilling…at some point, your loved one will find that preparing food is difficult.

When making meals becomes a challenge, the danger of poor senior nutrition increases.

After all, it’s far too easy for Mom to grab a less-than-nutritious pudding for breakfast…simply because she doesn’t feel like cooking.

If your loved one is tempted to make unhealthy food choices, keep on reading. In this article, we’re giving three recipes to support senior nutrition.

The best part?

While these recipes provide important nutrients, they don’t require an oven or stove—a huge plus for your loved one.

Senior Nutrition Recipe #1: Vitamin B-12 Banana Split

ChooseMyPlate.gov, a service of the USDA, indicates that nutrients such as “potassium, calcium, vitamin D, [and] vitamin B12” are important for older adults.

If your loved one needs a breakfast that provides both vitamin B-12, potassium, and other nutrients, check out this recipe.

It’s a healthy twist on a banana split, featuring cottage cheese and fruit preserves.

This dish provides much-needed potassium and vitamin B-12—thanks to cottage cheese. Another plus is protein. As Good Housekeeping notes,“½ cup of 1% [cottage cheese]…contains up to 18 grams of protein.”

Share this with Mom or Dad. It’s an easy way to kick off the morning while maintaining senior nutrition…no oven, frying pan, toaster, or blender needed.

Senior Nutrition Recipe #2: Antioxidant Spinach Strawberry Salad

We all know the importance of antioxidants for general health…but fighting free radicals with proper senior nutrition becomes all the more important as your loved one ages.

Empower your parent to support his or her health with this spinach strawberry salad recipe. This salad only requires 10 minutes of prep time, but it has a five-star rating for over 1,900 reviews!

According to Healthline, the spinach in this salad will provide…

• Fiber.
• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin C.
• Iron.
• Lutein.
• Quercetin.
• And more!

And when it comes to strawberries, WebMD notes that these “are among the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity” and that they contain potassium as well.

Be sure to share this recipe with your mom or dad…and explain that it doesn’t require intensive preparation.

Senior Nutrition Recipe #3: Omega-3 Avocado and Tuna Salad

Recent research has indicated that avocados may be an important intervention for brain health. However, that’s not the only reason your loved one should eat avocados.

Avocados contain vitamin C to support Mom or Dad’s immune system as well as omega-3s.

And speaking of omega-3s, according to Seafood Health Facts, three ounces of white albacore canned tuna can provide a hefty 500 to 1,000 mg of omega-3s.

If you’re looking for nourishing meals for your loved one, check out this tasty recipe, which combines these two ingredients for a powerful nutritional punch.

Once again, there’s no oven or stove involved, and prep time is only 10 minutes.

When it comes to recipes like these…

At The Ashford, we make it easy for your loved one to throw together a quick no-cook, no-bake meal.

Our suites provide comfortable kitchenettes for your loved one’s convenience (some apartments even offer full kitchens).

However, when your parent decides it’s time to slow down on the activities of daily living, such as preparing food and cooking, we provide comprehensive dining options.

Discover The Ashford community that’s closest to you, and schedule your visit so you can see the suites and dining venues we provide for your loved one in person.

Schedule a tour of The Ashford on Broad in Columbus, Ohio, when you click here.

Schedule a tour of The Ashford of Mt. Washington in Cincinnati, Ohio, when you click here.

The Ashford at Sturbridge is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018 in Hilliard, Ohio. To speak with a team member about what you can expect for your loved one, reach out to us…or go here to schedule your visit in advance.

When it comes to making decisions related to assisted living, individuals and family members should take the necessary steps to get a clear and honest picture of what their options are.

A large part of the assisted living research process is getting clear on what’s true–and what’s hearsay.

There are many commonly held false beliefs when it comes to caregiving methods, medications, levels of care, mental health, and beyond.

If you’re considering assisted living as an option for your parent–yet feel uncertain about the validity of certain advice you’ve come across–this post will come in handy.

Read on to clear up confusion and misinformation surrounding four common myths about assisted living.

1. Moving to an Assisted Living Community Means Losing a Sense of Independence.

(Source)

Some seniors and their families assume that making the move to an assisted living community will mean the end of their independence.

However, with various choices of floor plans, activities, levels of care, and more, there could be nothing further from the truth.

Assisted living communities provide a safe environment with the right amount of assistance to enable residents to live more fully and independently.

No longer will you have to worry about your mother’s safety when making trips to the grocery store, or your father’s well-being as he attempts to cook dinner.

Doing away with the hassles of daily life, while maintaining independence and a rich life, is what assisted living is all about.

2. Residents in Assisted Living Get Less Personalized Attention Than They Would If They Lived at Home.

You may assume that with the numerous seniors residing in a senior living community, your parent will receive less personalized attention.

However, many assisted living communities have an impressive caregiver to resident ratio–ensuring that each resident receives the necessary attention and care.

At The Ashford communities, we provide a primary caregiver for each of our residents.

Our caregivers take the necessary time to not only care for each resident appropriately–but also get to know him or her on a deep and personalized level.

On the other hand, family members who attempt to serve as caregivers at home will often experience burnout and resentment–impacting the level and quality of care provided.

3. Assisted Living Is a Sad, Isolating Place for Seniors.

The media and pop culture of today often overly dramatize and skew the vision of life at an assisted living community.

Though some people may believe that assisted living communities are lonely and depressing places for seniors–the truth is quite the contrary.

Many assisted living communities are friendly, positive, and homey settings that provide seniors with a wonderful social life and enriched lifestyle.

With an easily accessible network of peers, stimulating extracurricular activities, delicious and nutritious meals, and kind and down-to-earth caregivers, many residents’ only regret is that they didn’t make the move earlier.

It may require some searching to find the right fit for your parent, but in the end, assisted living communities will add ease, safety, comfort, and joy to your loved one’s life.

4. Living in Assisted Living Means Seniors Will Have to Give Up Their Hobbies.

(Source)

Concerned that a move to an assisted living community will mean that your mother will need to give up her passion for gardening?

Or that your father will no longer have the ability to play chess and socialize with peers?

Think again.

Assisted living communities provide a wide range of activities to satisfy even the most particular of residents.

These communities make it a point to enable residents to continue to explore their passions and interests while ensuring increased safety and ease of daily life.

Don’t let myths like these hold your parent back from making the move to an assisted living community.

Hesitating to make the move for the above reasons only holds your parent back from living a fuller and safer life.

The Ashford communities provide assisted living options designed to replace an uncertain future with personalized support, social engagement, and peace of mind.

Call us today to schedule a tour of our Ashford on Broad, Ashford of Mt. Washington, and Ashford at Sturbridge (scheduled to open in fall 2018) communities, and see what we have to offer your parent!