Keep Seniors Safe from Foodborne Illness

Health Eating for Seniors  |  May 9, 2023

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB, Needs to Know About Keeping Seniors Safe from Foodborne Illness

Do you know how to keep seniors safe from foodborne illness? Nowadays, even with all the regulations, the risk of food poisoning is still present. Every so often we hear that someone has been hospitalized after eating contaminated foods, such as fish, dairy and chicken. Most cases of food poisoning can be attributed to these foods.

Eating food contaminated with bacteria or parasites is concerning at any age. For seniors, contracting a foodborne illness is not easy to recover from. Some older adults even end up in a hospital, and in certain cases, food poisoning even leads to death.

Why Seniors Are More Vulnerable

Due to their age, seniors have a weakened immune system and their body is no longer capable of fighting illness as efficiently as before. The liver and kidneys also do not function as well as they used to and they cannot easily cleanse the body of harmful toxins.

In addition, some medications can cause a problem. Drugs that are prescribed for heart disease or diabetes have side effects that can weaken the immune system so recovering after food poisoning becomes increasingly difficult.

Three Tips to Keep Seniors Safe from Foodborne Illness

Tip #1 – At the Grocery Store:

If a can is dented or a jar has cracks, it should not be bought. Also, seniors should avoid any produce that looks bruised. When packing groceries, raw meat should be packed in a separate bag so it doesn’t drip on other food. Older adults should pay close attention to the expiration date of the product.

Tip #2 – Food Handling and Preparation:

Hands should be thoroughly washed with warm water and soap prior to meal preparation, and kitchen counters should be sanitized. Any produce should be rinsed with tap water, while raw meat and other foods should be prepared on separate cutting boards.

Seniors should also use a food thermometer to make sure that their food is cooked safely, instead of just relying on the color. Any perishable foods should be refrigerated within two hours of cooking.

Tip #3 – When Eating Out:

When dining out, older adults should stick to meals that do not contain any uncooked ingredients. In case the food doesn’t look properly cooked, it should be sent back.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is Proud to Offer a Wide Range of Home Senior Care Services

Our trained caregivers will ensure your loved one is comfortable, independent and safe in their home. On top of that, we will also aim to enhance their overall health, quality of life and general happiness. 

Top-Notch Home Healthcare for Seniors in Edmonton, Alberta

Comfort Keepers of Edmonton offers a wider range of senior care services. We offer retirement care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, and senior living transition services. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care and more!

Helping Seniors Age-in-Place with Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs. Our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind, empathy. We strive to stimulate our clients emotionally, mentally and socially, thus enhancing their overall quality of life. 

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The system increases seniors’ sense of well-being, independence and companionship by focusing on Senior Mind, Senior Body, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Safety.

Affordable and Client-Directed Homecare is Available for Qualifying Albertans

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. 

What is the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI)?

CDHCI is a great program provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS), allowing clients to choose an approved agency like, Comfort Keepers Edmonton for Personal Care, Respite Care and Homemaking needs. The chosen agency can then bill AHS directly for services rendered for approved hours through Alberta Blue Cross. Read more about the program HERE.

Accredited Home Care Edmonton

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. This honour demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton, AB.

To learn more about senior in-home care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office. Our service territory includes Edmonton, Devon, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office at 780-465-4665.

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