Supporting Older Adults With Better Nutrition: How Home Instead Helps Clients Stay Healthy at Home.
In 2025, we partnered with a chef and nutritionist to enhance our approach to nutrition in home care — making healthy eating easier, enjoyable, and personalised for our client
At Home Instead, we provide high‑quality, person‑centred home care for older adults across North Oxfordshire and South‑West Northamptonshire. A key part of our commitment to wellbeing is ensuring our clients enjoy nutritious, balanced meals that help them stay strong, independent, and thriving at home.
In 2025, we partnered with a chef and nutritionist to enhance our approach to nutrition in home care — making healthy eating easier, enjoyable, and personalised for our clients.
Why Nutrition Is So Important for Older Adults
Good nutrition is essential for maintaining strength, mobility, cognitive health, and overall wellbeing. It also plays a major role in reducing the risk of frailty, which affects many older adults.
As we age:
- Appetite often decreases
- Muscle mass naturally reduces
- Bone strength declines
- Digestion slows down
- Taste and smell may change
- Some medications affect appetite and hydration
This makes targeted nutrition in home care more important than ever.
Key Nutrients That Support Healthy Ageing
Below are the nutrients we consider when supporting clients with meals and food planning.
- Protein – Crucial for Strength, Mobility, and Reducing Frailty
Adequate protein intake helps maintain muscle mass and reduce frailty risk. Older adults typically need 1–1.2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight.
Good sources of protein include:
- Animal-based: meat, fish, eggs, dairy
- Plant-based: beans, lentils, tofu, chickpeas, nuts, seeds
We also use high‑protein snacks and fortified foods for clients with a smaller appetite.
- Healthy Fats – Supporting Heart, Brain, and Joint Health
Omega‑3 fatty acids are linked with reduced frailty and improved cognitive function. They also support heart health.
Sources of healthy fats:
- Oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout)
- Walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed, soy products
A good diet would include two portions of fish per week, including one oily fish.
- Fibre – Improving Digestion and Blood Sugar Control
Fibre helps prevent constipation and supports healthy digestion — common concerns for older adults.
High‑fibre options:
- Vegetables and fruit
- Wholegrain bread, cereals, and pasta
- Beans, lentils, pulses
- Vitamin D – Essential for Bones, Muscles, and Fall Prevention
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the UK, especially among older adults who spend more time indoors.
Sources of Vitamin D:
- Oily fish
- Eggs
- Fortified cereals and dairy alternatives
Our Care Professionals also help clients follow supplementation guidance where appropriate.
Download table summarising this informtion by clicking here.
- Calcium – Maintaining Bone Strength and Preventing Osteoporosis
Calcium supports bone density and muscle function. It’s particularly important for women after menopause.
Calcium-rich foods include:
- Milk, cheese, yoghurt
- Kale and leafy greens
- Fortified cereals and plant milks
- Tinned fish with edible bones
- B Vitamins – Energy, Memory, and Cognitive Function
B Vitamins support the nervous system and help the body convert food into energy.
Sources include:
- Green vegetables
- Fortified cereals
- Meat, fish, eggs, dairy
- Nuts, lentils, soy products
Hydration: A Simple but Powerful Part of Home Care
Dehydration is a common cause of falls, confusion, and fatigue in older adults. Our Care Professionals encourage clients to drink 6–8 cups of fluid per day through water, tea, soups, and other preferred drinks.
How Home Instead Supports Nutrition at Home
We understand that many older adults struggle with appetite, interest in food, or the practicalities of cooking. That’s why food support is built into our home care services.
Our Care Professionals help by:
- Preparing nutritious meals tailored to personal preferences
- Cooking alongside clients to make mealtimes more enjoyable
- Providing companionship at mealtimes, reducing loneliness
- Encouraging gentle re‑engagement with cooking and favourite recipes
- Preparing meals that fit into a typical one‑hour home care visit
New Recipe Collection Tailored for Older Adults
Working with our chef and nutritionist, we’ve created easy, nutrient‑rich recipes that fit perfectly into home care visits.
Examples include:
- Slow Cooker Lentil Soup – high in fibre and plant protein (click here)
- Salmon Pesto Tray Bake – rich in omega‑3 and ready in one visit (click here)
We also encourage nutritious “snack plates” to support energy levels, such as:
- Boiled eggs
- Nuts and seeds
- Mackerel or sardine sandwiches
- Yoghurt and fruit
- Cheese and wholegrain crackers
- Protein‑enriched flapjacks or snacks
You can download an easy to digest (!) table of key nutrients and food sources here.
Why Choose Home Instead for Nutrition Support and Home Care?
At Home Instead, nutrition isn’t an afterthought — it’s a core part of how we help clients stay safe, strong, and independent at home. Whether through meal preparation, hydration support, or tailored nutritional guidance, our Care Professionals make everyday wellness easier.
If you have loved ones in need of support at home in Banbury, Bicester, Brackley, Towcester and all the villages in between, and you’d like to learn more about our home care services — including meal preparation, companionship, dementia care, and personal support — we’d love to help.
Get in touch today to find out how we can support you or your loved one.