Take Care Of An Elderly Person? Follow These Tips To Prevent Accidents During Mealtime

If you take care of an older person, you might worry about him or her getting hurt or otherwise having an accident while eating. For example, you might be worried about spills, burns and other issues. Luckily, following these tips can help prevent these accidents and can make mealtime easier and more pleasant for your loved one.

Consider a Roll-Up Table

You can purchase a roll-up table from a medical supply store, much like the roll-up tables that are used in hospitals. Then, it will be easy for you to serve your elderly loved one while he or she sits in a favorite chair or is in bed. Plus, since the table is on wheels, it can be easily moved closer to your loved one without as much of a risk of a spill.

Keep the Table Setting Simple

It is best to keep the table setting simple when serving food to an elderly person. Even though a vase of flowers or a centerpiece might seem like a nice touch, it can clutter up the table and make it that much more likely that there will be an accident. A better idea is to keep the table as simple as possible so that your loved one can eat and move around without worrying as much about bumping something or knocking something over.

Serve at Lower Temperatures

In many cases, it's best to avoid serving food that is piping hot. Then, if your loved one spills something on himself or herself or takes too big of a bite or sip, he or she could be burned. You obviously won't want to serve meals cold, but allowing foods to cool a bit before serving them can help.

Use Lighter Dishware

Look for lighter plates, bowls, cups and other dishware. Then, it will be easier for your loved one to manage, particularly if he or she has gotten weaker with age. Plastic cups, bowls and plates can be a good option -- not only are they light in weight, but you don't have to worry about them breaking and cutting your loved one in the event of an accident.

Mealtime can be tough for many elderly people, and accidents like spilling food or knocking something over can be pretty common. Luckily, following these tips can help reduce these accidents, which can provide peace of mind and make mealtime a whole lot easier and more pleasant. To learn more about handicapped equipment and supplies, contact a company near you. 


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