Abacare offers advice on healthy eating to the elderly
AN AWARD-WINNING care agency is offering its advice on the importance of healthy eating to the elderly as part of BNF (British Nutrition Foundation) Healthy Eating Week this month (June, 2018).
Abacare says it is extremely important that the elderly are well hydrated and eat the right meals, ensuring they get all the nutrients they need.
Denise Hopkins, Regional Manager at Abacare, which has offices in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT), said: “As part of Healthy Eating Week, which takes place from June 11 – 15, we’re offering our expert advice on how the elderly can have a healthy diet and why it’s so important for them to do so.
“A diet rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids is a must and will have great benefits for the skin – salmon, broccoli, blueberries and nuts are all rich in antioxidants so should feature in an elderly person’s diet on a regular basis.
“Protein is also important with each meal. Not only can it help energy levels but it is great for keeping the skin firm. Fats such as avocado can help dry or mature skin hold onto water too.
“As a treat, a small piece of dark chocolate (70% chocolate or more) is a great source of magnesium and is very high in antioxidants. It can help prevent free radical cell damage and research has linked it with helping to lower blood pressure.
“It’s important that an elderly person’s diet is varied and that they continue to enjoy food. Colourful fruit and vegetables can really help liven up meal times and provide lots of nutrients too.”
The BNF Healthy Eating Week is about raising awareness for the charity and how to eat more healthily and live a better life.
It wants to encourage and promote healthy eating and drinking habits, being physically active, food provenance and cooking from scratch as opposed to eating out and ready-made, processed food.
Denise added: “As well as personal and hygiene care, our carers also take on tasks such as preparing meals for our service users and we work closely with them and their families to ensure they get everything they need in their diet to remain as fit and healthy as possible.
“We are currently in an age of ‘super foods’. One that we recommend for our elderly service users is kale as it is one of the most nutritionally rich vegetables around and is an excellent source of vitamins K, A and C. It is also virtually fat free and low in calories too.
“Garlic, while not being brilliant for your breath in the morning, is another super food that should be in everyone’s diet. Research has also shown that it can decrease osteoarthritis in women, contains other compounds that have been found to help protect cells in the heart and also lowers blood pressure.
“Berries can support brain and cognitive function and help reduce depression. Bananas contain B6, amino acid tryptophan and carbohydrate to help boost mood and aid a good night’s sleep. Eggs contain vitamin D, which stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain and a drink of green tea is great for aiding digestion.
“If anyone would like any more information on healthy, they can check out our blog at www.abacare.org.uk/abacare-
Abacare operates a professional Care Management Team that is committed to providing high quality care to individuals in their own homes.
The large team of trained, specialist, care workers provide positive based outcomes and person centred care to people throughout Wales.
Abacare’s core values, instilled into every staff member, include ‘make us proud’, ‘focus on our service users’ wellbeing’, ‘communicate, listen well and speak with respect’, ‘be passionate, honest, caring and considerate’, ‘recruit and develop the very best’ and ‘lead by example’.
It believes it offers inspiring work for inspirational people and is looking for caring, honest and reliable individuals to join its team.
No experience is necessary to become a carer as free, full training is offered, which includes a company induction, first aid, information on dementia, health and safety, food safety, infection control, handling medication and moving and handling service users, with the opportunity to achieve Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) after the initial six months probationary period.
New recruits are given free uniforms, access to national staff discount scheme for all major brands as well as 28 days paid holiday, paid travel between calls and paid mileage.
Abacare is also offering FaceTime or Skype interviews to candidates in order to meet the demands of the modern jobseeker. Its view is that busy people wanting a career change can ‘meet’ the team via FaceTime or similar applications and find out about the roles it has to offer, as well as meet a couple of team members and, if they are about, also say ‘hello’ to a carer too.
Anyone interested in joining the team at Abacare should visit www.abacare.org.uk or call 01443 742645.
It is a member of the United Kingdom Homecare Association, Ceretas (formerly British Association of Domiciliary Care), The National Homecare Council and The Information Commissioners Office (Data Protection). It is also registered with the Care Social Services Inspectorate Wales.
Abacare has been awarded an Investors in People accolade for its staff training and development for the fourth year running.
Investors in People is a national standard, which provides a framework that helps organisations to improve performance and realise objectives through the effective management and development of their staff.
For more information about Abacare, please call the RCT office on 01443 742645 or visit www.abacare.org.uk. Alternatively, please follow the company on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/Yn4zmS or on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/visitabacare.
