Everyone can agree that we need to eat to live. Buying food and preparing meals is a necessity of life. As we get older, the ability to move around may diminish, let alone our capacity to drive our own personal vehicle. Appetites may decrease and preparing food may become a dreaded chore. Many seniors are independent and are able to drive themselves to the grocery store, while others aren’t able to get behind the wheel any longer. Whether someone drives them, or they drive themselves, there are helpful food shopping strategies before and while at the grocery store. Since getting to the grocery store may become a challenging dilemma, here are some senior food shopping tips to help your aging loved ones tackle the task of food shopping.
- Calling in help: Hire a home health agency. Many agencies allow caregivers to drive either their client’s vehicle or their own car to the grocery store.
- Make a plan: It’s a good idea to plan meals for the week in advance before arriving at the grocery store. Good nutrition is a challenge without the right ingredients.
- Go mobile: For those with mobility issues, shopping at larger chain stores that offer wider aisles to navigate make shopping easier.
- Focus on Nutrition: Carts should be filled with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, lean meat, fish, poultry, beans, and nuts.
- Get online: Larger supermarkets may offer online shopping with food delivery options that are ordered from the comfort of the home.