Caregiving Rodeo

Snacks My mother has a good appetite but has been losing weight as she ages. She has three prepared meals a day, plus around three snacks. (I.e. she eats like a Hobbit.) Having some standard snacks on hand makes it easy for me or one of our helpers to just grab something quickly between meals. I keep a section in the fridge for Mom’s snacks: yogurt cups, applesauce, diced peaches, Mandarin oranges. And we try to keep bananas in stock in the pantry. She is also a fan of apple pie and apple Danish pantries. Putting a piece of fruit out on the kitchen island, let’s her decide when to eat it and peeling the banana or orange keeps her busy.  Beverages Advice about the elderly usually includes keeping them hydrated. We do this by leaving glasses of water in Mom’s usual places: puzzle table, side table by her easy chair, dining table. In the hot weather, I love to give her popsicles. We get real-fruit-juice popsicles from our local grocery store, so can feel glad about giving her a healthy fr