June 21st is National Smoothie Day. Smoothies are one of the best ways to start your dad’s day when he has problems with tooth or jaw pain. If he’s experiencing ill-fitting dentures or has problems with chewing after a stroke or as dementia progresses, here are some smoothies that provide the nutrition he needs. If preparing easy-to-chew meals becomes difficult for your senior parent as well, personal care at home can be there to help.

Apple Pie

Place a cup of your dad’s favorite milk in a blender. Add a cup of unsweetened applesauce, a quarter cup of oat flour, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a splash of vanilla. Blend that until smooth.

Berry Chia

Chia seeds are packed with fiber, calcium, iron, B vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. They’re great additions to a smoothie. Place a tablespoon of chia seeds into a blender, and add a cup of frozen berries, a frozen banana, a cup of milk, and a cup of baby spinach leaves. Blend until smooth.

Blueberries and Greens

Blueberries do a great job of masking the flavor of greens, and both offer the antioxidants that older adults need. It’s easy to make and takes only a minute or two.

Put a cup of frozen blueberries, a cup of baby spinach leaves, a frozen banana, a cup of unsweetened almond or flax milk, a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, and a heaping soup spoon of almond butter into a blender. Blend it for a minute and serve.

Chocolate Strawberry and Greens

Place a cup of frozen strawberries, half a frozen banana, and a cup of baby kale in a blender. Add two tablespoons of cacao powder, a half cup of unsweetened vanilla yogurt, a cup of unsweetened cashew or almond milk, a quarter cup of almond flour, and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Blend that until smooth.

Peanut Butter Banana

Chop up a banana and add to a blender with a cup of oat milk. Add a half cup of old-fashioned oats, a quarter cup of unsweetened peanut butter, and a tablespoon of flax seed powder. Blend that until smooth. Add cacao powder if you want to make it a chocolate peanut butter banana smoothie.

What Happens When Your Dad Cannot Feed Himself?

What if your dad has a hard time holding a glass or drinking from a straw? A caregiver can take smoothies and feed them to your dad using a spoon. He’ll have the helping hand he needs to keep his calorie intake stable.

In addition to a balanced diet to help your dad’s health, you should look at personal care at home. He can have caregivers help him with eating, grooming, and hygiene. His caregivers can ensure he’s showered and dressed each morning and help him shave, apply moisturizer, and brush or comb his hair.

Personal care at home aides can assist your dad with nail care when needed. And, when he needs to brush or floss his teeth or care for his dentures and gums, his caregivers can help with that, too. A home care advisor can help you get started.

If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Potomac, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

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Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

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