Foodborne illnesses occur when foods a person eats are contaminated. The contaminant may be a bacteria, toxin, parasite, or virus. Foods that spoil and are still eaten can also cause food poisoning. To prevent this from happening to an older adult, you need to take preventative steps.
Scan the Contents of the Fridge and Cupboards During Every Visit
Check the dates on items in the refrigerator and cupboards when you visit. Look for leftovers that have been pushed back and forgotten. If there are past-date items, dispose or compost them and recycle the jars or containers. Containers for leftovers should be washed or rinsed and placed in the dishwasher.
While you’re checking dates on items in cupboards, check for pantry pests. If you spot tiny insects crawling around in a bag of flour, compost it.
Soak Dishes in a Sanitizer Solution Before Drying
In a professional kitchen, dish washing can be a complex task. If there’s a dishwasher, it can help with washing and sterilizing cutlery, dishes, and cups. If there isn’t one, dishes are washed, rinsed, and placed in a sanitizing solution that’s made from one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of cold water. After they’ve been completely submerged and soaked for a minute, they’re removed and dried with a clean paper towel.
The step involving a sanitizer may seem tedious, but it helps kill germs. Keep a large bin in your kitchen that you can fill with cold water and bleach and place dishes in them after you’ve washed and rinsed them.
Put Leftovers Away
Don’t leave leftovers hanging out on the counter. It doesn’t take long for bacteria to start growing. If you have leftover pizza, put it in the refrigerator. Don’t leave it out on the counter overnight. If you do forget, throw it out in the morning.
Sign Up for Government Recalls and Warnings
Sign up for the government recalls and warnings. FoodSafety.gov is a good place to start. You’ll also see some of them on FDA or USDA’s websites. If you spot something your parent is likely to have purchased, make sure it’s been disposed of.
Enlist the help of caregivers in your parent’s kitchen, If your mom or dad are becoming lax when it comes to throwing away outdated foods, keeping the kitchen clean, or washing dishes carefully, you can’t let them continue. Caregivers can clean the home, put away groceries, clean kitchen surfaces, and help with meal preparation. Call an agency to ask about meal preparation and grocery services.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Caregivers in Gulfport, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
