Heather has enjoyed a 30+ year career working with elderly clients. She loves the population and finds that older adults are “fascinating with fun and different histories when you take the time to listen,” she said.
Both long-term care facilities and assisted living residences in Massachusetts are required by the State to adhere to guidelines when it comes to nutrition; ensuring that menus include recommended daily allowances and a wide variety of options.
At Decatur House, Heather reviews the menus, answers dietary questions, and helps residents with conditions such as diabetes, kidney failure and heart disease to manage tricky therapeutic diets. This may include: sodium-restricted, sugar-restricted, low-fat or gluten-restricted diets. She said that David, Food Services Director at Decatur, is well-aware of each resident’s needs and preferences and that he is a wonderful partner in the process.
Heather says that one of the biggest things that differs with older adults, as opposed to the general population regarding food, is mealtime. Heather says that older adults should eat their biggest meal at lunchtime with a lighter meal in the evening to promote better sleep.
When working with older adults, Heather says that their decreased ability to chew and swallow due to reduced muscle tone must also be taken into consideration. “Food often needs to be made softer,” she said.
Heather also specializes in helping residents balance their medications with their food intake. “When people lose taste and smell, which happens as we age, their caloric intake often decreases, and we just need to adjust their medication (for example insulin for diabetes or medication for high blood pressure) to work in balance with the food,” she explained.
Most importantly, Heather believes in liberalizing diets for older people. She feels that people should eat foods that they enjoy and eat to be happy.
Heather is the owner of Natural Solutions. To learn more, visit her website at www.The-Natural-Solution.com.
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