When it comes down to the wire, before your elderly loved one’s surgery, you may be wondering how their recovery process will go? What types of issues will they have, if any? Are they going to be in pain? How long will the recovery process be? These are all great questions that you can talk to your elderly loved one’s doctor about. In the meantime, it would be a good idea to learn about the nutrients that are essential for a quicker recovery. Not only that, but these nutrients can reduce the number of issues your elderly loved one might have during recovery and reduce their pain levels during recovery, too.
Increasing Antioxidants in the Diet
One of the things that you or companion care at home providers should encourage your elderly loved one to do during their surgery recovery process is to increase the antioxidants in their diet. Studies have shown antioxidants help improve the healing process due to their ability to repair damaged skin cells and protect the body. Some of the foods that have high antioxidant levels are:
- Spinach
- Berries
- Grapes
You or a home care provider can encourage your elderly loved one to eat these foods for snacks or as part of a meal. If they have even one of these foods, once or twice a day during their recovery, it can help significantly in reducing their recovery time.
Adding in the Calcium
Another thing that your elderly loved one should have during their recovery is calcium. Studies show that calcium helps to improve nerve impulses, repair bones, boost muscle strength, and prevent blood clots. All of this is essential after someone has surgery. You or a companion care at home provider can take your elderly loved one to their doctor after surgery to ask how much calcium they need.
Some of the foods that are filled with calcium that you or a home care provider can get for your elderly loved one include:
- Almonds
- Yogurt
- Kale
You or a companion care at home provider can make salads, lunches, or even snacks that have these ingredients in them.
Fiber and Carbohydrates
During your elderly loved one’s recovery process, they are going to need fiber and carbohydrates in their diet, too. Studies have shown that fiber is essential during recovery to prevent or relieve constipation. The carbohydrates boost energy and improve the healing process. They also improve nerve, muscle, and brain health which is essential for your elderly loved one’s recovery, as well.
Some foods that have either fiber or carbohydrates in them include:
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Whole grains
- Nuts
- Raspberries
- Beans
There are many meals and snack options that can be made using these ingredients.
Conclusion
If your elderly loved one has surgery coming up, it would be a good idea for you or a senior care provider to go grocery shopping before they get home. That way, you can ensure at least some of these foods are ready for them during the recovery process.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Companion Care at Home in Pittsburg, KS please contact the caring staff at Adelmo Family Care today at (417) 206-4576.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567220/
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