Elderly Nutrition
Challenges And How To Overcome Them
People in general today do not eat very healthy diets. Poor nutrition is responsible
for a whole range of health problems and these can become serious in the elderly. It has been estimated that nearly
50 percent of senior citizens have inadequate nutritional intake.
A poor diet can increase the chance of developing pressure sores and can seriously
slow down recovering from them or other skin wounds. Poor nutrition can also weaken the immune system and make one
more susceptible to colds and flu. In addition, eating the wrong foods can contribute to diabetes and heart
disease. The elderly often suffer from poor nutrition because of eating too few calories because of skipping meals
in addition to making poor food choices.
Proper elderly nutrition is important for maintaining health and vitality. Seniors
living alone are especially at risk for falling into the habit of poor nutrition. Finances could be to blame.
Seniors on a limited budget may have to cut out meals or buy cheap food of low nutritional value just so they can
pay for medications. Seniors also become forgetful due to age or dementia and may not even realize they haven't
eaten for an entire day. Aging or medications may have robbed them of an appetite or the ability to smell and taste
so they aren't stimulated to eat. The elderly also have difficulty getting to the store to buy food and then
preparing it once they get home. All of these things contribute to poor nutrition that can then lead to dehydration
and malnourishment. Being malnourished or dehydrated can cause symptoms of dizziness and confusion that can be
mistaken for other medical conditions when the underlying cause is simply poor nutrition.
There are steps you can take to make sure your loved one has plenty to eat and eats a
healthy diet. If finances are the cause of malnutrition, contact a social services agency in your community and see
what services are available. You may be able to take advantage of a program such as Meals on
Wheels that delivers warm food on a daily basis. Your loved one
may qualify for food stamps or some other form of assistance that will help her put food on the table every
day.
Also, make sure she is able to buy the food she needs by arranging for
transportation. Drive her to the store or arrange for a taxi to provide service. You can even show her how to order
groceries online for home delivery. Once she has the items in her home, make sure she can prepare them easily. If
your loved one has a medical condition that limits her mobility, it might be difficult for her to cook. Arrange for
someone to come in and cook for her or buy the equipment she needs so she can take care of her own
cooking.
It's also a good idea to have plenty of food stored so if there is ever an emergency,
your loved one will have food to get her through. The winters may bring a long stretch of ice and snow that will
keep her homebound for days. Or she may lose power for several days after a hurricane. Emergencies always happen
unexpectedly so preparing in advance by having several days of food and water on hand is a good idea for everyone,
including the elderly.
Elderly nutrition is much more than just making sure plenty of food is available.
Your loved one may simply not have a desire to eat or she may have problems due to missing teeth or problems with
swallowing. You may need to blend foods or only buy foods that are soft and easy to swallow. The most important
thing to keep in mind is to make sure your loved one has a steady supply of nutrient dense foods. Rather than
allowing her to fill up on junk food that offers little in the way of nutrition that works to build bones and
muscles, feed her vegetables, fruits, beans, and quality proteins so even if she eats little of it, she will still
benefit nutritionally.
Providing proper elderly nutrition can be a challenge. Every one of us has our own
likes and dislikes when it comes to food. Combine that with the challenges of the elderly such as forgetfulness,
lack of appetite, and inability to chew and it is easy to see how providing a well balanced diet can become a
challenge. Although it may take work to find a diet plan that is nourishing and well received, the effort will be
worth it. The nutrition obtained from food is much better and safer for seniors than trying to supplement with
vitamins that may be poorly absorbed or toxic, plus a well balanced diet will help them live healthier
lives.
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