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As a caregiver for your parent or grandparent, you spend plenty of time making sure they feel comfortable. You also need to protect them from obtaining any food-borne illnesses. Use the following senior care guide to learn how and why it’s essential to be mindful of your food preparation techniques.

Understanding Seniors & Food-Borne Illnesses

Compared to younger adults, seniors are more at risk of contracting food-borne illnesses. As the body ages, the immune system weakens, and it becomes harder to fight off bacterial infections. People over age 65 also have a smaller amount of stomach acid, which kills off bacteria in the digestive system. 

Many seniors also deal with vision loss, cognitive impairment, or a weakened sense of taste and smell. These issues can make it difficult to prepare food properly or determine when something is safe to eat, increasing the risk of ingesting salmonella or E.Coli.

Important Food Safety Tips 

One of the best ways to keep food from spoiling is to control its environment. After cooking, wrap up leftovers and place them in the fridge or the freezer.

senior careDo your research on how long a particular item can remain in this environment. For example, cooked chicken is only safe to keep in the fridge for one to two days. Prepare enough chicken two meals at a time, and freeze the rest. 

While cooking, it’s important to ensure that the internal temperature of the food climbs high enough. For example, fish must reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees to be safe to eat. If your senior prefers their meat rare or medium-rare, explain the importance of longer cooking times. 

After cooking meat, it’s crucial to wash all utensils and plates with warm water and soap to kill any bacteria. Also, check the thermometer inside the appliances to ensure that the food is chilled properly. Your senior’s fridge should remain at 40 degrees or colder, and their freezer should be at 0 degrees or colder.

 

Covering all the bases for your senior can be challenging, but with the help of Visiting Angels Medina, you can rest easier. This Ohio senior care company offers services from daily companionship to meal preparation throughout Medina, Southwestern Cuyahoga and Wayne counties. Whether you need to run out to the store or enjoy some alone time, you can rely on their compassionate caregivers to step in and take over. Learn more about their non-medical senior care online, or call (330) 723-0300 to speak with a representative. 

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