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

Let’s Keep Seniors Safe from Foodborne Illness! In this day and age, even with all the regulations, the risk of food poisoning is still present. Now and then we can hear that someone has been hospitalized after eating contaminated food in a restaurant. Most often people get food poisoning through fish, dairy or chicken. While eating food that has been contaminated with bacteria or parasites is concerning at any age, seniors are more prone to contracting a foodborne illness and cannot easily recover from it. 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. 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® in Edmonton Can Help Keep Seniors Safe from Foodborne Illness with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help. We offer retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, and companionship care. Our care services also provide end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and more! 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ offers a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Empathetic caregiving starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs.

Home Care Edmonton

If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. 

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

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

Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services. This demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton. Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.

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