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Tips to Improve Nutrition in the Elderly

The term "Nutrition" refers to a healthy and balanced diet so that the body gets the nutrients it requires. Nutrients are elements in foods such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water that our bodies need to function and grow. Good nutrition is vital for the body, no matter your age. It gives you energy and can help you control your weight and help prevent some diseases. As one ages, the body changes, and so does the requirement for the body to stay healthy. As you age, your caloric requirement might be less, but there is still a need for enough nutrients. Thus, a well-balanced diet is essential for the elderly to energize and maintain healthy body weight. A well-balanced diet further lowers the risk of developing chronic health conditions.

To meet the nutritional needs of the elderly, a diet rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is a must. However, various factors can impact the nutritional needs in the elderly such as-appetite loss, chewing difficulties or other chronic health conditions. Thus, a thorough understanding of the common problems that affect nutrition in the elderly is a must and needs to be addressed before improving their nutritional needs/requirements

Factors Contributing to Malnutrition in the Elderly

The most common factors causing malnutrition in the elderly are:

● Loss of Appetite:

One common issue many older adults experience is appetite loss. The loss of appetite can be attributed to loss of taste and smell, chronic health conditions or specific medications. Often, this loss of appetite might be due to less mobility and lack of physical activity.

● Chewing & Swallowing Problems:

Sometimes, the elderly face dental problems like dentures not fitting correctly or other dental issues. These dental issues might lead to chewing difficulties, thus causing malnourishment and loss of weight. Besides these, many elderly people face swallowing problems, thus making it difficult for them to eat.

● Medications and Chronic Health Conditions:

Chronic health issues/problems and medications also impact digestion and the ability to absorb certain nutrients in older adults.

● Mental Illness:

Elderly with mental illness like dementia, depression or social isolation also can affect their desires and ability to eat.

● Strength Loss and Immobility:

Some elders become frail and immobile with age and are not able to shop for groceries and cook. Often, they are unable to cook due to mobility issues, thus impacting their diet, making them weaker.

Ways to Improve Nutrition

Elderly facing malnutrition or sudden weight loss should immediately be taken for a doctor's consultation to diagnose the underlying cause. Further, a few steps can be taken to improve nutritional needs in the elderly such as:

● Consulting an expert and planning the meals:

A geriatric dietician who can suggest a diet can be consulted if the elderly face diet issues. A certified dietician can advise a diet plan and easy to prepare recipes depending upon the health condition and specific requirements of the elderly.

● Soft and Colourful Meals:

Food for the elderly has to be soft so that it is easy to chew and swallow. A wholesome and complete meal should be prepared to help meet the nutritional requirements of the elderly. Further, ensuring that the simple food is not dull by making it colourful and delicious can also help.

● Frequent and Small Meals:

In the case of the elderly facing issues such as loss of appetite, small meals and regular servings can also be planned.

● Planning a fun Mealtime:

Some elderly find mealtime boring; in such cases, ensuring that they get accompanied during mealtime can help. Engaging a caretaker or a cook to prepare and serve hot food to the elderly can also help.

● Professional Assistance:

Seeking professional assistance such as an attendant who can oversee the meal intake of your older adult can be very useful. It will help to ensure that they eat right, and you can also be updated about their nutrition status.

Conclusion

Diet and proper nutrition go a long way in keeping the elderly healthy & hearty. Also, you need to take the necessary steps to ensure that the elderly get and eat nutritious meals. Further, to age with grace and stay healthy as they age, incorporating the following into the elderly's life helps, such as - a healthy diet, plenty of liquids, and some physical activity.

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on May 02, 2022