Senior Care in Stamford, CT - Seafood is Delicious, but can also be Dangerous
October is Seafood Month and while we tend to think about summer as being the time to enjoy lobster, shrimp, and scallops, this is a food that is great all year long. There are some things to be concerned about when it comes to someone who may rely on senior care.
Allergies
Even though the elderly patient may not have any type of allergies to seafood in the past, that doesn’t mean they haven’t developed them now. The body changes over time and what didn’t cause us to be sick before might give us a reaction now.
It’s no fun when you have allergies to certain foods, and when it comes to seafood it can be downright dangerous. Some seafood allergies can cause the individual to go into anaphylactic shock, which can cause their throat to close over and make it difficult or impossible to get air into their lungs.
Other allergies can cause discomfort, especially stomach pains. Be sure that the senior doesn’t have any type of allergies to seafood before planning a trip to the local restaurant or fish market.
Choking hazards
How often have you taken a good, solid, bite of shrimp or lobster tail and then for a split second realized that it’s lodged in your throat? When you’re eating seafood, if it’s cooked properly then it will have a somewhat soft texture to it.
It may also be tough to chew and that can cause you to choke. The person who is eating with senior home services may not be prepared to devour a nice, tender lobster tail and they may chew a few simple times before trying to swallow.
The senior care provider should have experience and training on the Heimlich maneuver so that they can save a life if the need ever arose. Seafood, along with red meat (steak and lobster, anyone?) is one of the more common foods that can cause choking.
Freshness
Unfortunately, far too much of the seafood that we get in the United States today is not safe for regular consumption. Mercury and other contaminants have affected fish, clams, and other seafood items.
Check to make sure that the seafood you or the senior are going to get is fresh and from waters that are considered safe. If you don’t know, the market won’t tell you, or the restaurant doesn’t know, it might be best to pass on this meal.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Stamford, CT or the surrounding areas, please contact SYNERGY HomeCare of Stamford, CT at (203) 340-0652.
