Care Baskets for the Elderly--Edible Ideas

If you've browsed through this blog, then you may see that I love any type of gift basket. I have a special fondness for holiday themed baskets or baskets designed around a personal theme. And I usually recommend mixing up practical stuff with the fun stuff.


Sometimes, a gift basket needs to be more extreme.  When an elder is physically or financially unable to purchase things for themselves, then they need a care basket. This is any container that is filled with stuff they can or should use, but may not be able to buy.


Of course, this doesn't mean that it can't be an attractive container! You can dress anything up with a little imagination, but care baskets should be bigger than the average gift basket, since the goal is to supply necessities that will last the elderly a long time. 

Making a Care Basket For the Elderly--Fill It With Nutrition (And a Few Treats)

I personally think that a good care basket should be a balance between edible goods and non-food essentials. Its even better if there are TWO baskets, so you don't have to worry about something like soap spilling onto something like cookies.


So, this post is broken into two parts. This one will focus on the edible goods that you can put in a care basket.


In 2014, statistics showed that over 10% of people 65 and older (over 4 million) senior citizens lived in poverty and over 5 million (age 60 and older) were food insecure. This doesn't just happen to senior citizens who live alone. Those who are living with family caregivers may also be food insecure, since caregiving can often cause financial instability (especially if there are a lot of out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or a family member quits work to provide care full time. )


It is a disturbing fact that the food budget is often what has to be chopped in order to stretch lean earnings far enough to cover utilities, rent, and other necessary expenses, such as prescriptions.  That is why a gift of food to an impoverished elder (or anyone who is hungry) can never be wrong.


Especially if you fill your care basket with nutritious foods.


However, whereas it is the best idea to provide 100% wholesome and nutritious foods , it may not always be practical. Some people  may not be able to prepare foods that require long cooking times or lots of prep work before cooking. Those with low appetites may not feel that eating is worth the trouble of cooking, and resort to either convenience foods, or even no food at all. So foods that involve a lot of preparation, or complex instructions to cook, may go to waste. 


If you aren't sure whether or not your gift recipient can and will cook involved "from scratch"  meals, then it may be best to include a variety of foods. Even processed and convenience foods are better than no food. But, there are plenty of good-for-ya foods that you can slip in the basket, that are easy to make quickly.

A Quick Safety Note

If at all possible, find out from friends, family, neighbors, or the senior themselves  about any health condition that might be addressed while making your basket. For example, if someone has diabetes, you would want to avoid filling their basket with cookies or too many other sweet treats. If they have a food allergy or sensitivity, you would want to avoid foods that could cause a reaction. And if they have issues with swallowing/choking, things like nuts and popcorn could be risky. 

If its not possible to find these thing out, or you are assembling baskets in groups to hand out to many seniors in your area, then you just have to do the best you can. Aim for a balance of all items, and rest assured that most of it will likely be greatly appreciated and used. 

Foods for An Elderly Care Basket

Non-perishable foods should make up the bulk of a care basket. Dried, canned and boxed items will last longer, and there is less risk of food poisoning if eaten past the expiration dates. But a few "fridge foods" can be added to make the basket special. (Especially if these are "treats" that a person might not buy for themselves, but really love to eat!)


Store-bought food ideas: 

• Canned beans

• Canned fruit 

• No-sodium canned vegetables

• Small packages of dried pasta

• Canned fish

• Jarred pasta sauces

• Canned soups and stews

• Cold cereals

• Hot cereals in single serve packets

• Dried fruits

• Nuts 

• Peanut butter

• Jam or jellies

• Whole grain crackers

• Granola bars

• Fruit bars

• Single serve pudding and fruit cups

• Small or single serve ice cream or sherbet cups

• Canned or bottled fruit juice

• Bottled water 

• Water flavor packets

• Boost or Ensure shakes

• Microwave popcorn or pre-popped corn 

• Cookies

• Baked chips

• Pretzels

• Tortillas 

• Canned refried beans (the kind made without lard)

• Canned chicken

• Cheese crackers (the kind with peanut butter or cheese filling, or just cheese flavored snack crackers)

• Basic spices such as salt, pepper, parsley, cayenne, etc. 

• Teas or coffee (along with with supplies such as cream, sugar, or sweeteners. )

Emergency Foods

 If you don't know a person's situation, then you should always imagine the most dire scenario, and try to assemble your basket accordingly.

For example, imagine that an elder has recently had their utilities turned off and can't cook on an electric stove. What could they eat? Or imagine they use propane or gas, but they can't afford to have their tank refilled, and rely on the microwave. What can they eat right now, when they are the most hungry?


Make sure  there is something in the basket to cover any possible food situation. 

• Tinned meats such as deviled ham

• Tinned fish

• Single serve meals in a cup, such as Ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, beef stew, etc.

• Canned spaghetti, ravioli, and other heat and serve  meals

• Boxed foods such as mashed potatoes, dressing mixes and Hamburger Helper type meals. (can be made with a microwave or even a hot plate. Boxed stuffing can be made with really hot tap water in a pinch.)

• Canned chili

• Peanut Butter

• Crackers

Perishable Foods:

This is the stuff that will most likely be eaten first. So it is okay to add it to a basket. Just don't overload the basket. And make sure it will be delivered promptly and that the recipient has help putting the cold stuff away. 


 If you are donating in person, then a few freezer foods are a good inclusion, as you can make sure these get put up immediately.


Here are some ideas: 

• Cheese (wrapped cheese slices have a long life. Cheese sticks are a great protein snack that can be grabbed quickly. Fancy cheeses are a kind gesture, but some people may not know what to do with these, and may not like the unfamiliar taste. If you are going for block cheese, stick with simple, familiar cheeses (mozzarella, cheddar, Colby, etc.)

• Butter (unless there is a reason for going low-fat, real butter might be best for a senior.)

• Pickles, olives and relishes--the strong taste can help make food seem more flavorful to those with diminished taste perception.

• Cold cuts

• Summer sausage or pepperoni slices (these can have a longer fridge life than regular deli meats)

• Condiments (these non-necessities often get nixed from the grocery list when money is low.) 

• Vegetables and fruits (aim for items that don't require a lot of work before eating, such as peeling or pitting.) 

• Freezer meals 

• Frozen "quick" foods, such as chicken patties, fish fillets, burritos, etc. that can be heated quickly)

• Small ham

Some Things to Remember About Store Bought Foods

Not all foods are "convenient" to those with arthritis or other disabilities. Aim for cans that have pull-tabs when possible, packages that are opened easily by pulling or cutting, and resealable packages on things such as meats and cheeses.


If you aren't sure of the living conditions, you might want to throw in a can opener (new ones always work better, and the sharper and newer it is, the less likely it can injure someone. ), and possibly a device to help with opening jars.


Although foods look great in their original packaging for gift baskets, items that go stale quickly (chips, pretzels, dried fruits) it might be nicer to put them into see-through plastic canisters. Not only will the food stay fresher longer, but plastic won't break if dropped by shaky hands. And seniors will appreciate something that can be reused rather than a disposable sandwich bag.

Also, single wrapped items such as granola bars will last longer than food that is all in one container and has to be eaten up quickly before going stale.

Homemade Goodies for a Care Basket

If you like to cook and have the time, then a few home cooked treats would probably be highly welcomed. There is no limit to what you can make. It can be as simple as cookies or muffins, or you can make whole freezer meals that only need to be thrown in a pot, the oven, or the microwave. Here are a few things to give you some ideas:

• Cookies

• Cakes made with fruits (apple cake)

• Muffins

• Snack mixes

• Dried fruit

• Breads

• Casseroles

• Soups

• Stews

• Single serving freezer meals of things like: pot pie, enchiladas, spaghetti or lasagna,)

Think about cultural and geographical issues, too. Some elders might have an adventurous taste in food, while others might turn up their noses at something words like "kale" "quinoa", "tofu" or anything that sounds "foreign" or "fancy".


As long as you provide a variety of foods; healthy foods, foods that can be eaten right from the container, foods that need only minimal heating, etc. you are sure to provide something that they will use and enjoy.

Now that you have filled their pantries, check out this post to find out what non-edible items senior citizens might need in their care package!


See Also:

• Ultimate Senior Citizen Gift Guide

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