Many seniors are still primarily independent but need a little help with certain errands and physically demanding tasks like grocery shopping. Shopping for groceries for someone else can be challenging, but it’s important because it ensures your parent gets adequate nutrition. These tips may make it easier for you to manage your elderly loved one’s grocery shopping needs.
1. Plan Meals Ahead of Time
This tip ensures your loved one doesn’t end up with a kitchen full of food and nothing to eat. By deciding what meals to cook for the week before you draw up a grocery list, you make sure you get ingredients that can easily be combined to create nutritious meals. Meal planning can be surprisingly difficult, so it might be helpful to keep a list of your loved one’s favorite meals and rotate through them each month.
Planning meals ahead of time is a fantastic time saver for busy family caregivers. Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is Senior Home Care. Ashburn families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation.
2. Look for Stores with Motorized Carts
If your loved one isn’t entirely housebound, it’s a good idea to visit the grocery store together, as this ensures you get the preferred brands, and he or she can be involved in the task. Call ahead to your local grocery stores to see whether they have motorized carts or scooters that let seniors sit down as they browse the aisles.
For seniors with mobility issues or health conditions, an in-home caregiver can assist with grocery shopping and many more everyday tasks. The type of home care seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time.
3. Browse Grocery Store Ads
For many seniors, half the challenge of grocery shopping is finding foods within their budgets. Before visiting the store, look at the store’s ads online or in the newspaper to give you a good idea of what’s on sale so you can plan your menu and grocery list to take advantage of these sales. At the store, look at price tags carefully. Many stores display the price per unit for each item in a smaller font on the shelf label, so you can compare different brands and sizes to find the most cost-efficient options.
4. Consider Reasonable Quantities when Selecting Food
Most people focus on the types of food to get at the store, but you need to remember to think about the amount of food to get as well. For dry goods like flour, rice, and canned vegetables, it’s fine to get bulk products that will last a while. Frozen foods like meat, seafood, and certain vegetables can also be purchased in large quantities. However, dairy products, some vegetables, and herbs should only be purchased in small amounts, since they can go bad in a few days.
5. Check Out Online Grocery Shopping
Many of the bigger grocery store chains offer online shopping that’s quite convenient for housebound seniors. Sit with your loved one and search for the exact items he or she wants, and the store may offer the option of either delivering the groceries to your loved one’s home or pulling items off the shelves and having your order ready for a fast pickup.
If your loved one needs help with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping and preparing nutritious meals, a professional caregiver can be a wonderful resource. Ashburn elderly home care experts are available to provide high-quality care to seniors on an as-needed basis. From assistance with mobility and exercise to providing transportation to the doctor’s office and social events, there are a variety of ways professional caregivers can help your aging loved one continue to live independently. If your loved one needs professional care, Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help. Call us today at 703-423-0783 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
