Worried About Your Elderly Loved One's Weight Gain?
Elderly Care in East Grand Rapids MI
Your elderly loved one may be in a situation where suddenly she isn’t as active as she used to be or she’s eating foods she didn’t eat before. Both of those situations can cause unexpected weight 
gain, which can cause problems. If you’re concerned about your loved one’s weight gain, here are some simple solutions to try.
Problems with Weight Gain
While a pound or two here or there is not something for you to seriously worry about, more than that can be a problem. Extreme weight loss or prolonged obesity can lead to other problems, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol. A whole host of other problems can develop as well, so it’s important to make sure that any serious weight gain is checked out by your loved one’s doctor. Routine blood work that checks your loved one’s cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels can help you to find problems before they start.
Changing to a Healthier Diet
One of the things that you can do for your loved one to help her get control over any weight gain is to work with her to change her diet. Avoiding processed foods and eating more fruits and vegetables are good places to start. If your loved one eats a lot of sugary foods, then it’s important to make some healthier options available. If you can cook meals in advance for your loved one, that makes it easier for her to have healthy choices quickly. Sometimes it isn’t feasible for you to cook for your loved one, and if she has a tough time in the kitchen, that can be a problem. Elder care providers can come in to cook for your loved one, which gives her healthy, nutritious home-cooked meals regularly.
Getting Some Exercise
If your loved one isn’t accustomed to exercising, then adding movement may seem very difficult to her. Likewise, if she has health conditions that limit her movement, she may feel intimidated at the idea of exercising. Talk to her doctor about exercises that will work for her, and try doing them with her. Exercise is always more fun when you aren’t on your own with it. As she becomes more and more used to moving regularly, exercise should become much easier for her.
With just a few small changes, you can help your elderly loved one to get a handle on weight gain.
If you or someone you know needs help with elderly care services in East Grand Rapids, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 258-2300 for more information.
Source
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/basics/complications/con-20014834
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