For many of us, celebrating one or many of the winter holidays, fond memories revolve around baking up sweet treats to enjoy and share with those we love. From cookies to cakes to pies to specialty desserts, the holidays just don’t seem like they’d be the same without them. If your elderly loved one used to always be the one in the kitchen, wearing her apron and peeking into to oven window, she might be longing for those days when she could create her favorite baked treats for her favorite people. A veterans home care provider can assist when abilities to bake have diminished.
Why Baking Becomes Difficult
Many elderly people continue to bake into their 90s without a problem, but for others, health issues can begin to affect their ability to bake safely and accurately anymore.
Common reasons why your loved one may not be able to comfortably bake on her own could include:
Physical abilities. Your loved one may not be able to stand for long periods, bend over to pick up a heavy baking tray from the oven, or confidently hold a knife for chopping up nuts.
Cognitive abilities. Baking isn’t just about putting a few ingredients together and throwing them in an oven. Baking is often called a science because it requires exact measurements and timing to make the recipe come out delicious. If your loved one is struggling with memory issues or cannot follow instructions anymore, it can make a baking attempt come out disastrous.
Financial capability. Baking can be expensive, especially if your loved one used to bake up dozens of different varieties of cookies, all requiring different ingredients and tools. It might just be too expensive now on her limited budget.
Why Baking is a Great Activity for Your Senior
Baking is actually a great activity for the elderly if they have the help they need to make it successful. Baking can help improve cognitive function by engaging the brain in memory, math, and problem-solving. It can also provide exercise that isn’t overly strenuous, getting your loved one moving while baking. Finally, baking with someone is a great social activity, providing much-needed social interactions while building relationships.
Obstacles Don’t Need to Close the Oven Door on All Baking
Talk to your elderly loved one about what she’d like to bake and what makes it difficult for her to do now. Finding out what areas she struggles with can help you find the help she needs so she can put that apron back on and head into the kitchen again.
If your loved one is struggling with the physicality of baking, there are implements you can buy to help make some of the physical chores of baking and cooking easier. You might also find, having a companion, such as a friend or a veterans home care provider, can be just what she needs to help her do the “heavy lifting.”
A veterans home care provider can also be a great baking partner if your loved one struggles with the cognitive steps of baking. A veterans home care provider can help her stay on track and not miss any steps, as well as assist her in staying safe in the kitchen.
Finally, if finances are an issue, help your loved one find new recipes that require fewer items to create them, as well as items that share ingredients, so she has less to buy.
Get those oven mitts out. Grandma’s going to start baking again!
If you or an aging loved one is considering Veterans Home Care Services in Northport, NY, please get in touch with the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and NYC, including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stony Brook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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