November is Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to get educated about the details of this common condition. It’s especially relevant if you are a family caregiver who is responsible for a dependent elderly relative. Not only does celiac disease affect the aging adult, but it has a direct impact on your life as well.
While most people think that celiac disease, the body’s intolerance for the protein gluten, only manifests in a person’s early years, geriatric celiac disease is gaining more recognition. If your elderly loved one has recently been diagnosed, or you suspect they are demonstrating the symptoms, it’s up to you to get them to their doctor.
Celiac disease is a result of how the body reacts toward gluten, found in wheat, rye, and some other grains. When a person eats a food that contains gluten, the intestines react negatively. Some of the symptoms of celiac disease after eating gluten include gas, belching, nausea, vomiting, painful bowel movements, and constipation. Parts of the intestine become damaged with celiac disease, making it a challenge for your aging loved one’s body to absorb nutrients from food.
So how can you help your elderly relative live well with celiac disease? Organizers of the Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month resource and information campaign want you and other family caregivers to learn the best ways to implement this specialized diet for your aging loved one. Even if your elderly relative has been dealing with celiac disease for years, there are always new developments, treatment options, and meal ideas that you can learn from.
Remember that your aging loved one is dependent on you due to physical or cognitive decline. Most likely, you have home care providers, family members and friends to come to the home to give assistance for your elderly loved one. They all need to be aware of what foods are allowed in the senior’s meals as well as which ones to stay away from. Various resources available during Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month can help sort the safe foods from the harmful ones.
It’s important for home care providers to prepare meals for seniors with lots of fruits and vegetables, plus beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, and dairy products. Other safe foods include flour from sources like buckwheat and rice. Home care providers can make wonderful meals and snacks without going near the ingredients that contain gluten. If there are any questions on meals, you can make connections with community resources, such as dieticians and celiac disease support groups.
With everyone working together to help manage celiac disease, your aging loved one won’t ever feel deprived of food. Their health and wellness will improve, because they aren’t struggling to stay healthy due to the side effects of ingesting gluten. If you have any questions, need a home care provider or otherwise desire advice on celiac disease in seniors, you can tap into all the information provide locally and online about Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable home care in Gainesville, GA and the surrounding areas. Call (678) 828-2195 for more information.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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