Gut health plays a vital role in helping your elderly loved one maintain their independence and enjoy life to the fullest. The gut, which includes the stomach, intestines, and colon, often goes unnoticed when functioning properly. However, when gut health is disrupted, it can cause discomfort and prevent seniors from enjoying daily activities.
As people age, they are more prone to developing digestive health issues, with over 40 percent of older adults experiencing some form of digestive problem each year. While occasional stomach issues can be unpleasant, persistent poor gut health can lead to more serious conditions.
Senior home care services can play a key role in supporting gut health by ensuring proper nutrition, meal planning, and lifestyle habits that promote overall well-being. By addressing these needs, senior home care providers help older adults stay healthier and more comfortable as they age.
Gut Health And Other Areas of the Body
Your loved one’s gut health can directly affect other areas of her health. Some areas that can be affected by poor gut health include:
- The immune system
- Cardiovascular health, like heart disease
- Endocrine health, such as diabetes
- Mental health
- Certain types of cancer
- Sleep quality
What Affects Gut Health?
While most people assume digestive problems are linked to something they ate, food isn’t the only factor that can impact gut health. Other contributors include high stress, poor sleep quality, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy habits like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.
For seniors, maintaining gut health is particularly important, and senior home care services can play a crucial role by promoting healthier routines, including balanced meals, regular exercise, and improved lifestyle habits.
Improving Gut Health
The good news is that if your loved one routinely experiences stomach or digestive issues unrelated to a health condition, senior home care can help them take steps toward better gut health and a more comfortable digestive process.
- Consume more fiber. High-fiber foods like fresh fruit, vegetables, and beans can help prevent constipation and keep the digestive process moving smoothly.
- Get more exercise. Being active is a great way to promote better gut health. Cardiovascular exercises like walking and biking can stimulate gut muscles to move digestive contents through the body.
- Reduce stress. Too much stress can negatively affect the gut and also lead to poor food choices and poor sleep. Finding healthy ways to deal with stress will help gut health.
- Drink plenty of water. Water improves the food breakdown process in the gut, helping the body absorb nutrients. Water also assists with softening stools, reducing the risk of constipation.
- Reduce extremely processed foods. Your loved one should steer clear of foods that have a lot of added sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, or artificial sweeteners.
Enlist the Help of Senior Home Care for Better Health
Making changes to diet and exercise, and even habits like better sleep, can be difficult alone. Your loved one might need the support of someone to help her make better gut health choices and then stick to them. A senior home care provider who assists with grocery shopping and meal prep can be one way to support your loved one’s choice to try to eat foods that promote better gut health.
Senior home care providers can assist with shopping for the best ingredients as well as preparing those food choices once your loved one is back at home. Having the support and help from a senior home care provider can set your loved one up for success and better gut health.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Senior Home Care in Oak Ridge, NC, please contact the caring staff at Affordable Family Care.
Serving Raleigh, Greensboro, and the surrounding areas in North Carolina. Call today at (919) 676-1070
Sources:
- Five Factors That Can Lead to Poor Gut Health - April 28, 2025
- The Benefits Of Home Care For Seniors With Arthritis - April 9, 2025
- Does Your Mom or Dad Need 24-Hour Home Care? - March 27, 2025
